About Us
"The only easy part of going to Space is dreaming about it!"
- Bobby Russell
Above and Beyond
When we started Quest for Stars, the goal was simple yet ambitious: advance STEAM education and make space research more accessible to students and researchers, then bring it all back to the classroom. We wanted to go above and beyond to bring excitement and adventure to science and STEAM education. Now, over a decade later, we are still pushing the boundaries of student Research and Education Missions (REM,) enabling new roles such as Social media promotion, Public relations, and Media arts that support REM flights on balloons and commercial Sub-orbital space vehicles. The sky is no longer the limit, and through our work, the sky has become home to student STEAM experiments.
Meet our Executive Team
Bobby Russell is the founder and CEO of Quest for Stars. He is a skilled fixed and FPV/UAV pilot. He serves on the Commerical Spaceflight Federations SARG team as the high altitude balloon expert and is an award-winning STEM educator. Bobby Served in the US Navy on small boats and helped bring the first hand-launched drones to the Persian Gulf conflict in the late 1980s during Operation Earnest Will & Prime Chance Special Ops missions. Bobby is also the CEO of StratoUAS, a manufacturer of advanced FPV drones.
Steve Jones is the owner of a custom laboratory equipment company in San Diego. He is a U..S. Navy Vietnam veteran who served aboard the USS Midway and retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. Steve is our fabrication and electronics wizard. Steve not only serves as our Secretary but also is our electro-mechanical problem solver and ballistic fabric expert. Steve is an innovative problem solver and developed our balloon filler neck that serves also as the payload connection during our high-altitude balloon flights.
John Rizas, our treasurer at Quest for Stars, is a retired CPA with a background in aerospace and defense. His wealth management expertise, honed while advising High Net Worth individuals, is invaluable to our team. John's profound understanding of accounting and tax matters significantly strengthens our financial strategy, aligning seamlessly with our mission. His transition from a dynamic finance career to our cause showcases his dedication to applying his skills for a greater impact.
Our Mission Continues:
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