2026 Nominations and Elections

2026 AIAA Election

Voting is Now Open

On behalf of the Elections Committee, it is a great privilege to present the 2026 candidates for your consideration. Your participation in this year’s election will help determine the direction of AIAA. Critical decisions await the leadership in almost every area of the Institute. The Board of Trustees and Council of Directors are planning the way forward and working closely with staff and members to fulfill these plans.

The ENC/CNC Nominating Committee have assembled an outstanding slate of candidates. We urge you to carefully consider each candidate and select those who most closely reflect your values and your vision for the future of AIAA. All candidates are highly qualified, and all are anxious to serve.

If you encounter an error while voting, we recommend clearing your browser’s cookies and cache and then logging back into your account. This resolves most access issues. If the problem persists, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] for assistance.

Note: Members may not receive a ballot for all positions listed in the AIAA Election Guide.

Voting

The 2026 election is being held from 26 January–20 February 2026, and we will continue to vote electronically. We have taken steps to ensure the voting process will be smooth and efficient. We are using the independent third-party vendor, Survey and Ballot Systems, who we have used in the past to monitor the process and the web-based voting system.

Anyone who requests a paper ballot will receive one. Please use the electronic voting system if possible but if you need a paper
ballot, then please request one through Survey & Ballot Systems at 952.974.2339 or [email protected] (Monday–Friday, 0800–1700 hrs CST). All ballots must arrive at AIAA or be submitted online by 3 p.m. ET, 20 February 2026.

As with all democratic elections, it is a privilege and responsibility to vote and make your voice heard. We encourage you to vote today! Thank you for your service and continued commitment to AIAA.

The ENC/CNC Nominating Committee is pleased to present the slate of candidates for the 2026 AIAA elections:

In This Section

Integration and Outreach Activities Division

Director – International Activities Group
Luisella Giulicchi, European Space Agency (ESA)

Director – International Activities Group
Thomas Sebastian, MIT

Director-Elect – Young Professional Group
Sofia Franco Castro, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Director-Elect – Young Professionals Group
Stephen Clark, The Boeing Company

Regional Engagement Activities Division

Director – Region I
Kyle Zittle, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Director – Region II
Chris Crumbly, Auburn University

Director – Region II
Kevin Johnson, Blue Origin LLC

Director – Region VII
Björn Nagel, German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Technical Activities Division

Director – Aircraft Technology, Integration & Operations Group
David R. Maroney, MITRE (Retired)

Director – Aircraft Technology, Integration & Operations Group
Gabriele Enea, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Director – Space and Missiles Group
Stephen Blanchette, The Aerospace Corporation

Please direct any questions to Susan Silva, AIAA Governance and Executive Operations Administrator at [email protected].