Recognition

2025 AIAA Durand Lecture for Public Service

Kevin G. Bowcutt
Principal Senior Technical Fellow & Chief Scientist of Hypersonics, The Boeing Company

The Durand Lectureship for Public Service, named in honor of William F. Durand, Ph.D., is presented for notable achievements by a scientific or technical leader whose contributions have led directly to the understanding and application of the science and technology of aeronautics and astronautics for the betterment of humanity. Durand was a United States naval officer and a pioneer in mechanical engineering. During his remarkable 99-year life, Durand contributed significantly to the development of aircraft propellers. He was the first civilian chair of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner of NASA.

Lecture: “The Evolution of Hypersonic Flight Over Seven Decades and the Technical Breakthroughs that Got Us Here”

2025 AIAA Dryden Lecture in Research

Tim C. Lieuwen
Regents’ Professor, David S. Lewis Jr. Chair, and Executive Director of the Strategic Energy Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology

The AIAA Dryden Lectureship in Research, named in honor of Dr. Hugh L. Dryden in 1967, emphasizes the great importance of basic and applied research to the advancement in aeronautics and astronautics and is a salute to research scientists and engineers. The lecture succeeded the Research Award established in 1960.

“Future Research Directions in Aero Propulsion and Clean Energy Systems”

2024 Abe M. Zarem Graduate Award for Distinguished Achievement in Astronautics

Paper: Convolutional Neural Network and Homogenization based Hybrid Approach for Lattice Structures

Advisor
Zhao Wei, Oklahoma State University

2025 AIAA Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award

Michael W. Hankins
Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

This award is presented for the best original contribution to the field of aeronautical or astronautical nonfiction literature published in the last five years dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics or astronautics on society.

Book: Flying Camelot: The F-15, the F-16, and the Weaponization of Fighter Pilot Nostalgia

2025 AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award

Joseph M. Powers
University of Notre Dame

The award is presented for an outstanding contribution or contributions to aeronautical and astronautical literature in the relatively recent past.

Book: Mechanics of Fluids

2025 AIAA Mary W. Jackson Diversity and Inclusion Award

Karen A. Thole
University of Michigan

This award recognizes an individual or group within AIAA who has devoted time and effort and made significant contributions to the advancement of diversity and inclusion within the Institute. It also seeks to raise awareness on the value of a diverse membership and inclusive environment, and of important and challenging issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion in the aerospace workforce at large.

For sustained significant contributions to raise awareness of the value of diversity and inclusion in the aerospace workforce at large, an AIAA core value.

2025 AIAA Sustained Service Award

Gene R. Dionne, USAF (ret.)
Lockheed Martin Space (retired)

This award is presented to recognize sustained and significant service to AIAA and who has shown continuing dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and sustained contributions.

For his passionate, unmatched support of AIAA and the Rocky Mountain Section through volunteering across all committees.

2025 AIAA Sustained Service Award

Trevor S. Elliott
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

This award is presented to recognize sustained and significant service to AIAA and who has shown continuing dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and sustained contributions.

For prolific, dedicated, and outstanding service to AIAA forums, technical committees, student teams, outreach groups, rocketry organizations, and aerospace communities leading to numerous student-led recognitions.

2025 AIAA Sustained Service Award

David C. Fleming
University of Michigan

This award is presented to recognize sustained and significant service to AIAA and who has shown continuing dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and sustained contributions.

For sustained service to the Cape Canaveral Section and Florida Institute of Technology branch through continued participation, council leadership and unwavering dedication to AIAA's mission.

2025 AIAA Sustained Service Award

Aaron L. Harcrow Jr.
No Box Innovations, LLC

This award is presented to recognize sustained and significant service to AIAA and who has shown continuing dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and sustained contributions.

For over 40 years of outstanding and sustained service to the Atlanta Section and Region II, contributing to the success of the Section.

2025 AIAA Sustained Service Award

Christopher J. Pestak
HX5, LLC

This award is presented to recognize sustained and significant service to AIAA and who has shown continuing dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and sustained contributions.

For dedicated service to AIAA and the field of aerospace for over 40 years and holding significant leadership positions within AIAA.

2025 AIAA Sustained Service Award

Robert W. Pitz
Vanderbilt University

This award is presented to recognize sustained and significant service to AIAA and who has shown continuing dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and sustained contributions.

For over three decades of distinguished and continuous service to AIAA, especially in national leadership roles involving publications, honors, ethics, and technical committee activities.

2025 AIAA Sustained Service Award

Steven X. Bauer
NASA Langley Research Center

This award is presented to recognize sustained and significant service to AIAA and who has shown continuing dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and sustained contributions.

For sustained leadership, service, and contributions to the AIAA Hampton Roads Section, Region I, and AIAA National.

2024 AIAA-AEEE J. Leland Atwood Award

Stephen D. Heister
Purdue University

This award is bestowed upon an outstanding aerospace engineering educator in recognition of the educator's contributions to the profession. This award is co-sponsored by the ASEE Aerospace Division and AIAA.

For his transformative impact on the aerospace industry in revitalizing Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratory, and mentoring leaders currently developing advanced rocket and airbreathing propulsion systems.

2025 AIAA-ASC James H. Starnes, Jr. Award

Paul M. Weaver
University of Limerick, Ireland, and University of Bristol, United Kingdom

This award is presented to recognize continued significant contribution to and demonstrated promotion of the field of structural mechanics over an extended period of time emphasizing practical solutions, to acknowledge high professionalism, and to acknowledge the strong mentoring of and influence on colleagues.

For his outstanding contribution in the field of composite structures and his supportive and inspirational mentoring of young academics and professionals.

2025 AIAA Aerospace Power Systems Award

Margot Wasz
The Aerospace Corporation (retired)

This award, established in 1981, is presented for a significant contribution in the broad field of aerospace power systems, specifically as related to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the generation, storage, management, and distribution of electrical energy to aerospace power systems.

For exceptional technical contributions to advanced spacecraft battery power systems, outstanding service to the mission success of high-value United States Space Force launch vehicle systems, and leadership of AIAA space power activities.

2025 AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award

Zoltán S. Spakovszky
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This award is presented to an individual for sustained, meritorious accomplishment in the arts, sciences, and technology of air breathing propulsion systems.

For outstanding and sustained contributions to air-breathing propulsion through rigorous discoveries and advancements in compressor aerodynamic and aerostructural stability and in aeroengine acoustics.

2025 AIAA Ashley Award for Aeroelasticity

Mordechay Karpel
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the understanding and application of aeroelastic phenomena. It commemorates the accomplishments of Prof. Holt Ashley, who dedicated his professional life to the advancement of aerospace sciences and engineering and had a profound impact on the fields of aeroelasticity, unsteady aerodynamics, aeroservoelasticity, and multidisciplinary optimization.

For outstanding contributions to structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, and aeroservoelasticity, including engineering leadership, research innovations, influential publications, development of industrial software, and mentoring of aerospace professionals.

2025 AIAA de Florez Award for Flight Simulation

Heinrich H. Bülthoff
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics

This award is presented for an outstanding individual achievement in the application of flight simulation to aerospace training, research, and development.

For groundbreaking research into how the brain processes multisensory perceptual information and the application of this knowledge for developing revolutionary new motion simulation technologies.

2025 AIAA Energy Systems Award

Ying Zheng
Western University

This award is presented for a significant contribution in the broad field of energy systems, specifically as related to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the production, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy.

For remarkable contributions in advancing applied catalysis for clean and renewable energy innovations through exceptional dedication to research, education, and application.

2025 AIAA Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Award

Gary Polansky
Sandia National Laboratories (retired)

This award is presented to recognize outstanding sustained contributions and achievements in enabling technologies and/or the integration of technologies for system applications in the advancement of hypersonic flight.

In recognition of decades of technical leadership in pioneering U.S. hypersonic boost-glide vehicle development and testing in service of the national defense

2025 Information Systems Award

Radhakrishna Sampigethaya
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

This award is presented to recognize outstanding technical and/or management contributions in space and aeronautics for computer, sensing, and fusion aspects of information technology and science.

For pioneering work and research in aviation cybersecurity in the areas of developing aircraft and air traffic control systems countermeasures, educating the current and next-generation workforce, and enhancing aerospace safety and security.

2025 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award

Ilya Kolmanovsky
University of Michigan

This award is presented for an outstanding recent technical or scientific contribution by an individual in the mechanics, guidance, or control of flight in space or the atmosphere.

For significant contributions to advances in theory and methods enabling development of reference governors and model predictive control algorithms enforcing safety constraints in aerospace systems.

2025 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award

Robert P. Lucht
Purdue University

This award is presented for outstanding technical contributions to aeronautical or astronautical combustion engineering.

For numerous contributions to combustion, propulsion, and power generation through innovative development of advanced laser diagnostics and applying them to practical energy systems.

2025 AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award

Alon Gany
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or application of rocket propulsion systems.

For pioneering contributions in propulsion research on metalized propellants, energetic materials, hybrid rockets, ramjets, and scramjets, with sustained excellence in educating generations of propulsion experts.