Executive Leadership
Kevin Tish
Chief Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineering
Kevin Tish is a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. As Chief Mechanical Engineer of UMD Loop, he works closely with every subteam to ensure strong collaboration and coordination across the organization. Kevin oversees the rover’s mechanical systems and plays a key role in guiding the team through design, development, fabrication, and testing. He is a strong leader who is passionate about engineering, innovation, and helping the team succeed both technically and competitively.
John Paulenich III
President
Electrical Engineering
John is a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, studying Electrical Engineering. As President of UMD Loop, he oversees all aspects of the team’s operations—from systems integration to long-term competition strategy. John has strengths in system design and signal processing, and is recognized at national competitions and conferences. With a passion for technical excellence and team leadership, he is committed to pushing the boundaries of student-led innovation in preparation for the University Rover Challenge and beyond.
Didi Zhang
Chief Technology Engineer
Electrical Engineering
Didi Zhang is a junior pursuing a double degree in Electrical Engineering and English. This is Didi's third year in Loop, with the previous year being the former Electrical Lead. His work on the team includes CAN communication diagnosis, PCB design, STM32 firmware review, and wireless communication troubleshooting. One of Didi's favorite memories in Loop involves entering the MDRS Observatory during the URC competition. Some of his interests include playing board games, painting, and reading Sci-Fi.
James McCauley
Project Manager
Aerospace Engineering
James McCauley is a junior Aerospace Engineering major, currently serving as the Project Manager for UMD Loop. He creates a standardized, systemic approach to the entire team, working with the rest of the Executive Board to set regulatory practices, budgets, task lists, Gantt charts, and other materials that improve the daily operation of the team.
Emma Chang
Operations Director
Mechanical Engineering
Emma Chang is a senior Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Maryland. As Operations Director for UMD Loop, she is in charge of planning, logistics, analysis, and future steps for all subsystem and full system testing. As well as aiding the Project Manager, she helps keep all testing and operations of UMD Loop as streamlined and productive as possible.
