Wesley Fondal, Jr. is the Executive Director of Department of Defense (DoD) STARBASE Robins. He is a graduate of Dillard University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He received his Master’s Degree in Cell Biology from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX and attended the University of Missouri for graduate studies and research in the field of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Wesley also served in the U.S. Army Reserves and has a short teaching history in public education.
Wesley has helped expose youth to the technological environments and positive role models found on military bases and installations. Additionally, he helped ensure that students get exemplary instruction using a common core curriculum that meets or exceeds the National Standards. He has also been beneficial in nurturing a winning network of collaborators and building mutual loyalty. In his nineteen years as Director, Wesley has increased funding to the program as well as increased the number of students from area school districts attending the program. STARBASE Robins offers programming that increases the knowledge and interest in STEM careers and fields of study to students in grades 5th-8th. It is the only program in the Middle Georgia Area that offers computer aided design and three dimensional modeling to 5th graders. He was instrumental in having STARBASE Robins and the Museum of Aviation become the host site for the Middle Georgia FIRST LEGO League Super Regional Competition and Peachtree Regional Mid-season FIRST Robotics Competition. He has been PI/ co PI on three major NASA grants.
Wesley is a member of several science organizations and also served on the board of the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education, an advocacy organization whose Mission is to bring together the voices of government, business, and education to improve the quality and outcome of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Away from STARBASE, he enjoys his time with his three sons, Aaron, Wesley III and Stephen, traveling, cooking and jazz and music festivals.