Michelle Rouch has over 30 years of engineering experience working for the Department of Defense. Currently, she serves as a technical adviser and provides support for major weapon systems that are built at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, covering product lines acquisitioned by the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy, Air Force and the Army.
Rouch is also self-taught artist with over 37 years of experience combining her technical knowledge to create unique pieces of aerospace subjects. Her artwork locks a moment in time for the public to pause and reflect, offering another layer to promote Aerospace. Rouch continues to develop new techniques to redefine the genre with a contemporary approach. Her illustrations for Children’s Book, both published in 2021 Apollo 15 Astronaut Al Worden’s “Astronaut Al Travels to the Moon” and Shuttle Astronaut Ron Garan’s “Railroad to the Moon.”
Growing up in Kettering, Ohio for 23 years Rouch has a deep appreciation for Aviation History. She is an Alumna with Wright State University, where she earned her first degree in Electrical Engineering and later earned a Master’s degree in Information Systems Engineering from Western International University in Arizona.
Rouch was awarded American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate Fellow for her notable art & science contributions to the aerospace community. She served as Chair for AIAA Tucson Section and has earned first place for many years in AIAA STEM K-12 Outreach Awards, and offers talks on her unique kid-friendly Engineering / Art STEM Program. She is a member of AIAA Society & Aerospace Technology Outreach Committee (SAT OC), the Founder & Co-chair of the Tucson-Chapter of International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA), American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA) Professional Artist, Public Art and Community Design Board member, Higher Orbits Advisory Board member, and served as Artist Judge for Arizona Congressional District 2 for 4 consecutive years, and was nominated for the Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards: 2014-2016.