The Bridenstine Rocket Racing Team™ is comprised of highly talented individuals with diverse skills.  Demonstrating that we have the required expertise in critical disciplines, the Rocket Racing League™ selected us to be representatives of the new, exciting adventure into aviation sports and entertainment using rocket propelled aircraft.

Jim Bridenstine, owner and Chief Pilot of Bridenstine Racing Team™, has selected the following team members to fulfill the critical roles necessary for victory:

Team Owner and Chief Pilot—Jim Bridenstine

Originally trained as a Navy E-2C Hawkeye pilot, Jim now flies the F-18 Hornet at the Naval Strike & Warfare Center, where he is a Hawkeye Weapons and Tactics Instructor.  He is decorated for combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and has landed on an aircraft carrier more than 300 times.  He also owns a real estate business and a livestock business.

Jim is a 1998 graduate of Rice University with a BA in Economics, Business, and Psychology.

Contact Jim

Team Owner and Dir. of Public Relations—Michelle Bridenstine

Michelle’s has developed advertising strategies for numerous Fortune 500 companies and managed accounts worth more than $18 million at firms such as Advo Inc. and Witherspoon Advertising.  Seeing the promotional opportunities of The Rocket Racing League™, she is ready to help lead our sponsor to the next level. 

Michelle is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Journalism/Public Relations.

Team Pilot—Justin T. Fauntleroy

A qualified Hawkeye Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Justin is a pilot with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126, where he trains his squadron in the latest technology and tactics.  He is decorated for combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and has landed on an aircraft carrier more than 300 times.  He is a consummate student of space technology.

Justin is a 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a BS in Aerospace Engineering.

Team Pilot—Roger Jacobs

As an E-2C Hawkeye Plane Commander, Roger was decorated for combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Roger currently flies the T-45 Goshawk as an instructor pilot, training the next generation of fighter pilots in tactics and carrier landings.  He has accumulated over 300 carrier landings himself and he owns and manages a real estate business.

Roger is a 1998 graduate of U.S. Naval Academy with a BS in Ocean Engineering.

Director of Finance—Wayne Bridenstine

Wayne has over thirty years of controllership and financial officer experience with Ford Motor Co., Miller Brewing Co., and Weyerhauser.  He currently works as a mortgage broker providing sales and analysis to private clients as they finance residential and commercial real estate.

Wayne earned an MBA and a BS in Mathematics at the University of South Dakota.            

Director of Marketing—Danny Ruffin

An experienced Naval Aviator, Danny now instructs fleet pilots in simulators at Naval Air Station Point Mugu.  He specializes in aircraft systems, emergency procedures, and the dreaded night aircraft carrier landings.  He also works as a telecommunications consultant and has owned numerous distribution businesses. 

Danny earned a BS in Marketing from Fresno State University.

Director of Engineering—LeRoy Thompson

LeRoy has forty-plus years with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Dallas, TX.  His current project is to prepare system test plans and reports for guided rocket flight test missions.  He has managed several major test segments of the Guided MLRS Rocket (M30/M31) Tests.

LeRoy has his BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Texas at Arlington.

Crew Chief—Phillip Stiehl

Phillip has extensive experience in aviation maintenance including NASA’s space shuttle.  He has worked on aircraft for Sabretech, Timco, Gulfstream, SMART, and the United Space Alliance.  Additionally, his expertise has been applied to the Boeing 737and 757, and McDonald-Douglas DC-10’s.

Phillip has selected Marlon Bramble, with over twenty years of aviation maintenance experience with the United States Army and Marine Corps, as his assistant in this critical Team function.

Advisor—Daniel McShane

As a Naval Flight Officer and E-2C Mission Commander, Daniel was recently chosen to join the elite flight demonstration team, The Navy Blue Angels.  Daniel is decorated for combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and has over 300 landings on an aircraft carrier.  He is currently at Naval Air Station Oceana training in the F-18 Hornet.

Daniel has a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Music Composition, Education, and Theatre from the University of North Carolina.

Advisor—Charles Gamiz

As an electrical engineer, Charles designs, builds, and tests microchips for Intel Corporation.  His technical background will be utilized in optimizing data systems and telemetry for the race vehicle.  He will also mentor the Engineering Intern Program and advise on projects designed for the Team’s success.

Charles is a graduate of Rice University with a BS in Electrical Engineering-Physical Electronics.