Paul Tomas is a law enforcement park ranger during the day and an avid astronomer at night. Paul is accompanied by his 2 daughters, son, and loving wife. You often can find Paul with his daughter Hailee conducting programs and presenting on a variety of topics to include light pollution and astronomy throughout the valley. In summer, he climbs mountains and backpacks with his family, while in winter he focuses on Dark Sky advocacy and skiing. An Army airborne sniper veteran who served in Mosul, Iraq in 2010, Paul moved to Washington state in 2016 to work as a park ranger. His passion for astronomy grew at Lake Wenatchee State Park, leading him to form WVAC with friends to connect the community to astronomy and dark sky heritage.

Ed Martinez is a former Microsoft employee with 25 years of experience in various roles and locations, including Redmond, India, and Denmark. He currently lives at Lake Wenatchee in Leavenworth, where he enjoys the natural beauty and tranquility of the area and the beautiful dark sky that this area has to offer. 

Charlie Lee has been a proud resident of Leavenworth, Washington since 2011, where he lives with his family. Originally from Houston, Texas, Charlie deeply appreciates the stark contrast between the busy, sprawling city he grew up in and the stunning, small-town charm of Leavenworth. When not exploring the night sky, he can often be found enjoying the Wenatchee River or gravel biking the surrounding forest roads.

Charlie discovered his passion for backyard astronomy during the early days of the pandemic, sharing the experience with his son. He finds joy in visual astronomy—connecting directly with the telescope, the night air, and the ancient starlight that has traveled across vast cosmic distances to reach Earth. For Charlie, each night under the stars is a reminder of both the enormity of the universe and the beauty of experiencing it together with family, friends, and the local community.

Dennis Gilbert is a semi-retired electrical engineer with a lifelong passion for technology and innovation. Over the course of his career, he developed hardware and software across a range of industries, including medical ultrasound, industrial sensors, and nondestructive testing. Today, he continues to consult part-time while pursuing personal projects that combine technology and curiosity. Dennis and his wife live near Lake Wenatchee, where they enjoy skiing, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. He’s especially interested in using technology to deepen appreciation of the night sky—developing custom apps, designing hardware, and capturing astrophotography with a smart telescope.