National Defense Society
NDS
Est. 2026
National Defense Society at NC State
From the Brickyard to the defense industrial base.
A student organization connecting NC State to the people, problems, and companies of national defense.
Built for engineers and anyone headed toward defense or national security.
- Chapter
- NC State
- Founded
- 2026
- Members
- 70+
- Majors
- 15
Chapter status
- Mechanical
- Aerospace
- Electrical
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Nuclear
- Materials Science
- Biomedical
- Chemical
- Industrial
- Biology
- Political Science
- Finance
- Business
- Philosophy
70+
Members
2026
Chapter founded
15
Majors represented
All
Class years welcome
What we do
Four ways in
You do not need a clearance, a technical background, or a defense-adjacent résumé. Show up to whatever interests you.
01
Speaker events
Engineers, operators, and program leads from industry and government, on campus and on the record.
02
Build projects
Small teams tackling hardware and software problems with real constraints and real deadlines.
03
Trips
Visits to facilities, labs, and conferences where the work actually happens.
04
Socials
The part that turns a mailing list into a group of people who know each other.
What we build
Real hardware, real funding
A NASA-funded search-and-rescue aircraft, an uncrewed boat that launches its own drone, and an airframe you can print. Built by members, not bought.
REACHR
A 13-foot hybrid UAS for hurricane search, supply delivery, and emergency connectivity.
- Wingspan
- 13 feet
- Primary mission
- Search, supply, and rescue
MOSAIC
A four-foot uncrewed surface vessel that launches and recovers its own drone.
- Length
- 4 feet
- Cruise speed
- Up to 12 knots
PICO TALON
The classic Talon airframe, miniaturised and fully 3D printable.
- Autopilot
- INAV / ArduPilot
- Manufacture
- Fully 3D printed
Who runs it
Your executive board
Six officers, two industry advisors from Anduril and AST SpaceMobile, and a faculty advisor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
Julia Pasin
Social Media Director
Josue Flores Guevara
Social Events Director
Advisors
Dr. James Braun
Faculty Advisor
Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NC State
John Richards
Industry Advisor
Manufacturing Engineer, Anduril Industries
Chadwick Jetti
Industry Advisor
Associate Mechanisms Engineer, AST SpaceMobile
The chapter
Members, doing things
Get involved
Join the chapter
Open to any NC State student, every major, every class year. Get on the list and we will email you when the next event is scheduled.