Doug Underwood, Regional Coordinator for SystemsGo
Feb 1, 2019–Scott Netherland, Executive Director of SystemsGo, has announced the addition of Doug Underwood as Regional Coordinator for its new North Texas rocket launch site.
The Jack County launch site is the fourth for SystemsGo, the Fredericksburg, Texas-based nonprofit organization that provides curricula and training in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to high school students. Underwood’s duties will be to help orchestrate site development, recruit volunteers, and identify the area’s infrastructural support, according to Netherland.
“We’ve been very fortunate with the program’s growth, especially in the north Texas region,” Netherland said, noting the program is in 23 high schools north of Waco. “Our desire is to minimize travel-related expenses for those schools. That was a big driver of us to bring Doug Underwood on board. With his eight years of experience teaching SystemsGo classes, he knows the program well, and is still passionate about being part of the program and helping students.”
Underwood retired from Henrietta High School after 27 years of teaching in Texas public schools. He holds a BA in Music Education from Midwestern State University, with post-graduate studies in science, physics, chemistry and the environment at the Universities of Dallas, St. Thomas, Houston, and Texas Arlington. During his involvement with SystemsGo, Underwood has worked as a launch Range Safety Officer, assisted with teacher training, and served on the curriculum review committee.
“The SystemsGo program re-energized me my last eight years in the classroom and I saw a potential that I had not seen in any other program I had used over the years,” Underwood said. “That’s why I wanted to continue to volunteer after retirement and now work for SystemsGo. I still have a passion for teaching, and I know what students go through in creating their rockets.”
His interests include ham radio, rocketry, travel, and gardening. Doug and his wife, Sandy, have two sons.
The inaugural launches from the North Texas site are Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, 2019. The new site is located south of Jacksboro, south of FM 2210 and down Gown Ranch Lane.
Other launch sites and schedules:
New Mexico/Jal: Tue, April 16–Wed, April 17, 2019
Central Texas/Stonewall: Thur, May 2–Sat, May 4, 2019
East Texas/Smith Point: Thur, May 9–Sat, May 11, 2019
The SystemsGo Aeroscience program started in Fredericksburg High School in 1996. The innovative SystemsGo Studies science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum uses inquisitive learning based on a problem and project-based model to invoke and stimulate skills in design, development, testing, analysis, and innovation.
The student teams design and build 8-foot and taller rockets. First-year students attempt to send a one-pound payload one mile high. Second-generation projects send rockets past the speed of sound.
All launches are open to the public and free. However, all attendees must sign a waiver for access to the site. Details, schedules, directions, and ticket links are available at www.systemsgo.org • info@systemsgo.org • 830-997-3567.