Who is Zach Metzinger (N0ZGO)?

My first ticket was Technician Plus class, granted in 1993, followed by an upgrade to Advanced class in 1995, and to Amateur Extra in 2019. I have held my original call since it was first issued in Wichita, KS. I also hold a General Radiotelephone Operator License, granted in 1994.

I'm active on HF and UHF/VHF, both terrestrial and satellite, with recent interest in the microwave bands. However, I am more of a builder and experimenter than an operator.

My first real interaction with amateur satellites was during Field Day in 1994. Hearing my own voice come back on the downlink was magical, just as it was the first time I heard inter-continental HF. I was hooked, but it took many more years before I was able to operate on satellites again.

During the last four years, I've been a volunteer for the AMSAT GOLF project, working on the Radiation Tolerant IHU (RT-IHU) board. This board is the "brains" of the satellite: sending telemetry, accepting commands, and controlling payloads such as the transponder and experiments. The first flight of the RT-IHU, on GOLF-TEE, will provide valuable reliability data on the use of common off-the-shelf (COTS) components for this critical function.

I fully believe in the path toward HEO; We'll achieve this goal through the diligent work of our volunteers on GOLF, perseverance in our leadership, and support by the membership as a whole.

It is also my hope that we'll reduce our dependency on the commercialized Internet. Rather, we should focus on creating an amateur digital network in space for bulletins, efficient digital voice, and high-speed data, while preserving low-cost-to-entry analog transponder options.

If elected, I intend to work constructively with fellow AMSAT directors to develop and deploy new technology, increase our membership through educational outreach, and "Keep Amateur Radio in Space".