Board of Directors

Dennis Trujillo serves as a trustee on The Palmdale Aerospace Academy Board of Directors, bringing decades of service, leadership, and a deep-rooted connection to the Antelope Valley community.

A Southern California native, Dennis moved to the Antelope Valley with his wife and children in 1986. He has built a career rooted in business, finance, and community engagement, working for a government contractor at Edwards Air Force Base for 14 years and with the Palmdale Water District for 23 years, retiring in 2023.

Dennis has dedicated much of his life to public service, serving six years as a Board Trustee for the Palmdale School District, while his wife of 45 years, Cindy, devoted 25 years to teaching in the district before retiring in 2022.

Justin Knowles has served as a parent representative of The Academy’s Board of Directors since 2021, bringing with him decades of dedication to youth, education, and the Antelope Valley community.

The Knowles family has been part of The Academy since its inception, with children attending from the very beginning. A longtime resident of the Antelope Valley, Justin has worked in the aerospace industry since 1996 and currently serves as Director of Strategy at Northrop Grumman. 

Outside of his professional role, he is actively involved in the community – serving as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America for nearly 20 years and guiding church youth programs for over 15 years. Whether guiding a troop or shaping strategic vision at the board level, his passion is clear: preparing the next generation to be informed, empowered, and engaged citizens. His work is driven by a belief in the power of education to equip students to be successful and productive in the communities they call home.

Ellen McIsaac has served on the Board of Directors for The Palmdale Aerospace Academy since 2019, bringing with her deep expertise in engineering and a passion for mentoring the next generation of STEAM leaders.

Ellen is a Program Management Senior Manager at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and an Adjunct Instructor of Engineering at Antelope Valley College. Her career experience spans structures engineering, materials engineering, engineering management, and program management. 

She holds a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from MIT, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UConn, and an M.S. in Management Science & Engineering. She remains a dedicated advocate for expanding access to STEM education, volunteering actively with FIRST Robotics, the Society of Women Engineers, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the MIT Alumni Association.

Vickie Lee has been appointed to The Palmdale Aerospace Academy (TPAA) Board of Directors. Ms. Lee brings decades of dedicated service and extensive experience in public education to her new role as trustee. With a strong background in education, Ms. Lee offers both strategic insight and a passion for improving educational outcomes. She is deeply committed to upholding and advancing the school’s mission: “to prepare students for college and careers in science and engineering, particularly within the aerospace industry, by providing a STEM-focused education integrated with real-world applications.”

Ms. Lee has a long history of serving the students, families, and community of Palmdale as a “highly qualified” professional educator. She began her career in the Los Angeles Unified School District before later transferring to the Palmdale School District in 1991, where she has considered Palmdale her home. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from Chapman University and a Master of Divinity professional Theological degree from The King’s University. A leader on her school campus in various capacities, Ms. Lee holds a GATE certification from California State University, San Diego, and has served as the certificated AVID Elementary lead and grade level teacher. Her career reflects a continuous pursuit of professional growth opportunities, demonstrating her deep commitment to supporting innovative educational practices and fostering student success.

In her leisure time, Ms. Lee is active in her faith community, and enjoys genealogy, blogging, interior decorating, period movies, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren. Ms. Lee is honored to contribute her expertise, honed in the classroom and as a campus leader, to The Palmdale Aerospace Academy. She is committed to collaborating with fellow TPAA board members, staff, and the community to help the school thrive and fulfill its vision.

With over 25 years of dedicated service in our school district, I bring a deep understanding of education, leadership, and community engagement. Throughout my career, I have served as an educator, site director, and union representative-always advocating for students, staff, and
families. I hold a degree in Psychology, which has helped shape my compassionate and student-centered approach to education.

Beyond the classroom, I have remained actively involved in the community, serving as a Girl Scouts leader and a resource parent through the Department of Children and Family Services. These roles have allowed me to support and mentor young people from all walks of life. As a proud resident of this community for over 35 years and a parent of three grown children and two grandchildren who attended local schools, I am deeply invested in the success and well-being of our students. I am excited for the opportunity to contribute to the future of our schools and to work collaboratively with such an amazing team.

Firat is a Senior Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin working on air vehicle software under Advanced Development Programs / Skunk Works. Prior to Lockheed Martin, Firat worked on flight instrumentation software at Edwards Air Force Base.

In addition to his work at Lockheed Martin, Firat is a graduate student at Georgia Tech under the M.S. in Computer Science program. Before attending Georgia Tech, Firat graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics with a Specialization in Computing.

Outside of work and school, Firat is actively engaged in his community of Palmdale, CA as the Lead Computer Vision Mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition Team 5012: Gryffingear at The Palmdale Aerospace Academy. In his free time, Firat enjoys running, reading, NBA, and feeding his neighborhood’s stray cats.

Nardy Lopez has served the Palmdale community for over 19 years, bringing a strong commitment to public service, collaboration, and community well-being. Currently the Deputy City Manager for the City of Palmdale, she has held multiple roles throughout her career, including legal and administrative assistant, executive assistant, management analyst, and assistant to the city manager. 

Nardy has led impactful initiatives such as the city’s award-winning 2020 Census Outreach Campaign, implementation of the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology program and the highly recognized Fight Fentanyl Antelope Valley Awareness Campaign, as well as a small business grant program during the Covid pandemic. She has also supported economic development, food security, and public health campaigns, including programs to address youth wellbeing. 

She is a founding member of The Academy’s Foundation Board and founding parent of TPAA’s Gryffingear Robotics Team 5012, where she served as team mom for five years. 

Nardy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Master of Arts in Management, and an MBA from the University of Redlands. Her commitment to lifelong learning is reflected in her academic achievements and ongoing professional development.

Guided by her core values – faith, family, and community – Nardy is dedicated to helping students and families thrive across the district. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and extended family. Her greatest joy comes from serving others and giving back to the community she loves.