Mike Westerfield

Back in the early '70s, a pimply-faced underachieving nerd got interested in model rockets. Mike was good at math and science, but not particularly motivated because they didn't seem to be all that useful. He got interested in what he thought was a simple problem: He wanted to know how high his model rockets would go. Suddenly math and science seemed interesting. Mike took every math, physics, chemistry and programming course the high school offered. He won an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, where aeronautics and astronautics were required courses. Upon graduation, Mike pressed for an assignment in a classified satellite program where, as the resident physicist, he was a real rocket scientist. He soon sold his car to get the money needed to buy an Apple II computer and started writing assemblers and compilers. Finally, well on his way to an MS in physics, Mike could solve that original problem: He could predict the altitude of a model rocket to his satisfaction. Mike's passion for science and technology shows up in his work and hobbies. He has developed numerous compilers and interpreters, including APW, which Apple Computer shipped to developers for the Apple IIGS. He has worked on plasma physics simulations for Z-pinch machines, disease surveillance programs credited with saving lives of hurricane Katrina refugees, and advanced military simulations that protect our nations most critical assets. Mike credits that early interest in rocketry for changing him from an underachieving dweeb into a capable engineer and programmer. He shares that interest whenever possible; he has worked with kids form 5th grade through high school in various programs that used rockets to promote science, engineering and math. He currently flies rockets from tiny 1/4A motors thorough high-power rockets that break the sound barrier. Mike currently runs the Byte Works, an independent software publishing and consulting firm specializing in scientific and technical programming, Bluetooth LE technology, iOS development and cross-platform Java development. He lives with his wife in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where you will find him programming, flying rockets with the Albuquerque Rocket Society, and teaching scuba diving.