In 1956, DEKE SONNICHSEN (USA) founded the California Parachute Club (CPC). This was the first parachute club in the US and was affiliated with the National Parachute Jumpers and Riggers. Through the late 1950’s and 60’s, he served as Executive VP and later President of the Parachute Club of America, the predecessor of USPA. He was a competitor and a team leader for many US Parachute Teams. Among the competitions that he participated in were: 6th World Sport Parachuting Championship in Orange, MA, 4th Adriatic Cup in Yugoslavia and 7th WSPC in Germany. Deke was instrumental working with the Security Parachute Company, in 1963, to design, test and produce a new system, placing the reserve on the upper back, instead of the front, and with Pioneer Parachute Company, incorporating their Lemoigne Canopy System. He made the first live test jump using this system.