About Voltage 386
An inclusive, county-wide FRC program guided by mentors and rooted in Gracious Professionalism.
Mission & Values
Our mission is to empower students to explore the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) while fostering a lifelong journey of self-discovery. Through the values of Gracious Professionalism™ and a commitment to teamwork, innovation, and integrity, we aim to inspire and develop the next generation of ethical, enlightened leaders.
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is the ultimate varsity sport for the mind. Teams have just weeks to design, build, and program a 120-pound robot that cooperates and competes on a global stage. Voltage 386 embraces Gracious Professionalism—competing fiercely while helping rivals, elevating our community, and modeling integrity.
Gracious Professionalism
We compete with intensity while treating other teams, volunteers, mentors, and sponsors with respect and kindness.
Teamwork
Students from schools across Brevard County work with mentors to solve hard problems together.
Innovation
Each FIRST season gives students a new engineering challenge that rewards creative thinking, testing, and iteration.
Community Impact
We promote STEAM through FLL mentoring, the FLL Voltage Challenge, Sparky's STEAM Camp, demos, and outreach events.
What is Team Voltage?
FIRST Robotics Team 386, Team Voltage, began at Satellite High School in 1998 as Team 248 Scorpsquad.
The team moved to a new location in 1999 because single-school sponsorship was difficult, then opened membership to students from any area high school without an FRC team of their own. Team Voltage 386 became a South Brevard County team with students from ten different high schools and relocated to Melbourne High School in 2006, where the team still meets today.
In 2002, Team Voltage was the first FRC team in Brevard County asked to present FIRST to the school board. That advocacy helped Brevard County Schools recognize the value of FIRST programs and contributed to wider FRC and FLL support across the county.
Mentors
Professional engineers, educators, and alumni guide subteams, safety processes, and competition strategy.
Juan Davila
Lead Mechanical Mentor
Mechanical engineer at Harris/L3Harris with BS and MS degrees from Florida Tech. Juan has been part of Team Voltage since the beginning with Okie and values FIRST because it gives students a real-world challenge that changes every season.
DeAnn Davila
Controls & Inspection
Manufacturing engineer at Harris/L3Harris with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester. DeAnn has served FIRST for many years as a FIRST Technical Advisor, Lead Robot Inspector, and referee at regional and championship events.
Joe Bernier
Electrical Systems
Retired engineering manager for Northrop Grumman and United Space Alliance at Kennedy Space Center. Joe has mentored Team Voltage since 2002, teaching students electronics, sensors, and robot controls.
Debbie Bernier
Software & Alumni Support
Retired software engineer who spent 28 years developing avionics software at Rockwell Collins. Debbie joined through her children in 2002 and continues mentoring because FIRST helps students see themselves as capable college and STEM candidates.
Okie Baughman
Reliability & Fabrication
Retired Harris reliability engineer with an Oklahoma State degree and Navy electronics background. Okie started with Juan on Scorp Squad in 1998 and helps students understand what engineering careers are really like.
Daniel Kemp
Operations & Alumni Mentor
Supply chain professional at Harris/L3Harris. Daniel started with Team Voltage as a student in 2005, became the team's first mentor-in-training, and returned to give back to the program that taught him so much.
William Davies
Hardware & Software Integration
Maritime robotics engineer at L3Harris. William began FIRST in 2006 with L.C. Bird HS Robohawks 346 and joined Voltage in 2015 after earning a BS in Aerospace Engineering, mentoring software, electrical, and mechanical integration.
Janielle Ziegler
Team Operations
Project Support Specialist at Health First and Team Voltage alumna. Janielle was a student from 2007-2009, mentor-in-training from 2009-2011, returned in 2018 for Team Ops and Spirit, and became a FIRST Robotics Competition Field Supervisor in 2020.
Joe Foster
Fabrication Mentor
Florida native, University of Florida mechanical engineering graduate, and FIRST coach or mentor since 2010. Joe teaches students wood construction, metal fabrication, and practical robot design skills.
Tom Gabeler
Engineering Teacher
Engineering Technology teacher at Melbourne High since 2001 and FIRST mentor since 2002. Tom loves robotics and still looks forward to class every day.
FAQ
Need more details before visiting? Start here.
Who can join Team Voltage?
Any Brevard County high school student without an FRC team can participate—no experience required.
Do I need prior robotics skills?
No. We teach CAD, programming, fabrication, business, and media skills with structured onboarding and mentors.
How much does it cost?
We ask each family to support travel and fundraising, but need-based assistance is available.
How do sponsors help?
Sponsor funding covers robot parts, event travel, community outreach, and Sparky’s STEAM Camp scholarships.
Ready to experience Voltage?
Join us on a Monday meeting or drop a note for a sponsor tour.