Kameron LaCalli currently works as a hardware and systems engineer for ViaSat, Inc. in Carlsbad, CA, developing tactical satellite network systems for both U.S. and foreign militaries. Due to the nature of Viasat’s project teams, he has been able to wear a variety of different technical hats during his tenure there apart from working in hardware, having a hand in designing networked security systems, developing software test setups, and coordinating R&D level projects into production. However, since working primarily in hardware, Kameron has developed a keen interest in and experience working with SATCOM ground terminal architecture, phased antenna arrays, and FPGA based/embedded designs for various communication systems.
Prior to working at Viasat, he received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Honors program at the University of San Diego in December 2016. While in school he participated in and held leadership positions in Tau Beta Pi (President), IEEE
(Secretary), and the Ultimate Frisbee Club Team (Co-Captain), and served as the electrical team lead for the SAE Mini Baja senior design project team. As part of his honor’s thesis, he also helped found a Cubesat team at USD, presenting his research on a 1U Cubesat 2x2 phased array antenna at the 2018 IEEE Aerospace Conference.
While serving as the secretary for the University of San Diego IEEE chapter, Kameron organized chapter meetings, helped spread chapter awareness, and attended various IEEE conferences and events. Most notably, he recently helped coordinate and run the AESS Young Professionals social event at the 2018 IEEE Aerospace Conference in Big Sky, Montana. With only a few days notice that the YP representative would be unable to attend the conference, Kameron stepped in and played the role of event organizer, working with conference heads and AESS BoG members to secure speakers, coordinating food and drinks with catering staff, and advertising the event through word of mouth and a speech given on stage during one of the conference dinners. After Kameron’s quick intervention, the event was a success, and attracted lots of new faces to AESS and brought students, young professionals, and experienced mentors together to network in the same relaxed setting.
While a student at USD, Kameron held RF, firmware, and automation focused internships at Space Micro, Cubic Global Defense, Ericsson, and Automated Tooling Systems (ATS). These internships included working with small satellite subsystems, testing beamforming antennas, analyzing 4G networks, and more. It was through these internships that Kameron developed a fascination for communications in space and aerospace, attending and presenting at relevant conferences whenever possible.
When not working, he spends his time playing Ultimate Frisbee and enjoying all that San Diego has to offer; going on hikes, running on the beach, and (attempting) to surf. He is also recently engaged; he and his fiance will be married in January of 2019.