President
Mike Schmidt

Mike grew up during the space race (and cold war) and followed all things relative to putting a man on the moon, but what really grabbed his attention was space itself. At that time, the United States wanted to build the first observatory on the moon by 1984, and he wanted to be the first astronomer on the moon. Nuclear power was going to be harnessed for ships (check), nuclear power (partial check), planes (nope), and rockets (almost). Some unexpected turns in life led him into the Air Force where his last assignment was Air Force Space Command, and then most recently, a final sprint at U. S. Space Command. However, as life would have it, in the early 1980s he was assigned to the Nevada Test Site where he was able to work in the program’s administrative building and actually see the other facilities and the mock-up of the rocket. We almost had it, but it was canceled to allow funding for other prospects. At this point he is now able to explore space in other ways he never imagined.

Vice President
Ken Shelby

Dr. Shelby holds a Ph.D and Master of Science degrees in Systems Engineering from George Washington University. He is a graduate of the General Electric “Crotonville” corporate business school, Lockheed Martin Institute for Leadership Excellence and Lockheed Martin “Capturing New Business” Institute.

Treasurer
Chelsea Winney

Ever since I was a little kid, I have been passionate about space. My parents were gracious enough to indulge my passion by spending time outside in the middle of the night and watching meteor showers with me. Growing up in small towns, we saw many in town, but my parents would also drive me outside of town, wrap me up like a burrito, and place me on top of the car to watch the stars fall. Now, I enjoy looking at objects in our Solar System with my binoculars and 4.5-inch Newtonian Telescope, which CSAS helped bring into working order for me.

Secretary
Brian Clary

I am a retired Systems Engineer that has had a love of astronomy for over 50 years.  My parents bought me a 60mm Montgomery Wards alt-az refractor when I was about 10 years old and after I took a trip to Palomar Mountain, I was hooked.  After moving to Colorado in 1992, I built my own observatory for photographing and observing the night sky.  I joined CSASTRO in 2017 and I currently enjoy spending my time doing astrophotography and sharing my knowledge with others about Astro-imaging and the night sky.

Member-At-Large
Peter Kessler

Peter is a seasoned Systems and Cybersecurity Engineer with 25 years of experience in the field. Holding a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Peter has developed a deep technical expertise across multiple domains. 

A true polymath, Peter is deeply passionate about learning and enjoys exploring a vast array of topics beyond his professional work. Whether it’s science, philosophy, or history, his curiosity knows no bounds.

In his personal life, Peter met his wife while living in Germany, and together they share a love for stargazing. Whether it’s a quiet evening or a weekend getaway, they cherish the beauty of the night sky, making it a favorite pastime to unwind and connect.