Emergency Coordinator (EC)R. Bruce Stewart, N9GKE
Bruce was introduced to amateur radio by a friend, Scott Poff, whom he met while living in Indianapolis, and obtained his novice license, KA9VZZ, in 1986. The big advantage of being a “ham”, he thought, was the money it would save him on long distance phone calls when he moved to Lafayette later that year. Little did he know how large of a role amateur radio would play in his life.
Bruce joined TARA (Tippecanoe Amateur Radio Association) in 1986, where he has served as president, secretary and treasurer over the years. He joined WIRES (Western Indiana Radio Emergency Services) shortly after, and is currently serving as secretary and treasurer. In 1987, Bruce earned his general license and his call changed to N9GKE. He currently holds an extra class amateur license.
Bruce has assisted with communications for the FFA at Purdue University, as well as the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon. He has volunteered for the Red Cross on numerous occasions and frequently participates in communications during natural disasters in Indiana. Bruce was appointed EC for Tippecanoe County on January 17, 2008.
However, Bruce’s true passion lies in making contacts all over the world. In 8 years, he has contacted and confirmed over 600 islands, through IOTA (Islands On The Air). The prize in Bruce’s collection is Scarborough Reef, essentially a collection of rocks in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines. Some of the more interesting contacts he has made include the International Space Station and an LST (a WWII landing craft) on its way back to the States from England. He has confirmed contacts in 311 DXCC countries, and collects cards from Scottish and U.S. islands, as well as lighthouses. Someday, Bruce hopes to go on an expedition of his own and be on the “other” end of a pileup, making contacts from a Scottish island.
Bruce lives in Lafayette, Indiana with his wife, and they have two children.
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Administration AEC | Cheryl, K9HER
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Logistics AEC | Dave, WB9CZC
Dave was first licensed in 1966 as a novice, WN9VZQ. He upgraded to technician class in 1971. Dave obtained the old style "conditional" general license while serving in the Navy in Puerto Rico at a Naval Communications Station.
Dave earned his BS degree in EET at Purdue University, and spent three years working at the local Motorola service center in the early 1970's. He is presently employed by Purdue University as an electronics shop manager for Electrical Engineering.
Dave's amateur radio interests lie mainly in VHF/UHF and repeater operation and building. He is a life member of the ARRL. Dave has been a member of the local Red Cross chapter for many years, assisting in several disasters.
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Technology AEC | Bobby, KP4CI
Bobby is a third generation ham. His interest in radios and electronics started at a very early age, in part due to his grandfather, KP4CI, who had owned an appliance and electronics store / repair shop since the mid 1930’s. Bobby's interest in ham radio was sparked by watching his grandfather operate 2-meter portable in the early 70's, when KP4CI was getting back into the hobby. With his grandfather's tutoring, Bobby started building radio kits at the age of 11.
Bobby got his Novice license in the early 1990's while attending Technology School in Columbus, Ohio, receiving the call WP4JBP. Shortly after, he upgraded to Technician class, receiving the call he used for many years, WP4YJ. He upgraded to extra class in 2000. Bobby recently applied for and received his grandfather's call sign, and continues to honor the family tradition as KP4CI.
During his years as an amateur radio operator, he has belonged to, and served in, several clubs, ARES and RACES organizations, in several states and in the island of Puerto Rico. |
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Operations and Training AEC | Stephen, WR9A
Stephen became interested in radio communications and electronics in the early 1970's as an avid shortwave listener. Stephen got his hands on several books about amateur radio and read all he could on the subject while still in junior high. At a high school science fair while a freshman, he explained and demonstrated how easy it was to hear amateur radio operators communicating through the "OSCAR" satellite (AO-7) orbiting the Earth.
Stephen was one of the developers of Amplitude Compandored (now known as Companded) Sideband (ACSB), a narrow-band modulation scheme still in use today in mobile satellite communications, air-to-ground phones, and other commercial/government applications. He entered the U.S. Army in 1982 and spent most of his time in the military at Fort Meade, Maryland. As a civilian employee of the National Security Agency for more than 17 years, he worked as a senior signals analyst, SIGINT training supervisor, COMSEC systems developer, and a division director. Stephen presently works full time in Information Technology at Purdue University.
Stephen was first licensed as a technician in 1992, decided to get more active in the hobby and upgraded to general in 2001, then obtained his extra class license 4 months later in 2002. He is an ARRL accredited VE, and ARECC instructor and examiner. He enjoys a wide range of communications activities including: DXing (260+ countries with 100W or less), experimenting, digital modes, APRS, packet, D-STAR, satellites, signals analysis, mobile and portable field operations, and amateur radio public service (SKYWARN, ARES).
Stephen is a member of the Tippecanoe Amateur Radio Association (TARA), in which he has previously held offices, the Lafayette DX Association (LDXA), and serves as President of the board of directors of Western Indiana Radio Emergency Services (W.I.R.E.S.), the organization that owns and operates the area's most popular 2-meter repeater.
Stephen's other hobbies and interests include astronomy, aviation, weather, photography, music, and coin collecting. He lives in Lafayette with his wife, Cheryl, K9HER. |
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Tippecanoe County ARES
P.O. Box 4574
Lafayette, IN 47903
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Emergency Coordinator:
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R. Bruce Stewart, N9GKE
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