Events Category: Webinars

Beyond the Job Title: Perspectives from Practicing Engineers

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This webinar is free of charge and is open to the public

This panel discussion brings together three engineers to share what their day-to-day work actually looks like. This webinar session focuses on the practical realities of engineering roles—technical tasks, team interactions, challenges, and how they apply their education in real-world settings. Geared toward students and early-career professionals, the discussion aims to provide clarity on what to expect in industry and help bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace. If you’ve ever wondered what your first, or next, job will really look like, this session offers firsthand insight.

Panelists

Josh Kivijarv works in the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where he serves as a certified flight controller, instructor, and astronaut trainer for the International Space Station. He also supports operational development for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions. Josh holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering. Before joining the team at NASA, Josh gained broad private industry experience at Tesla.

Robert Burke works as a senior staff member at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. He works on advanced propulsion systems such as Rotating Detonation Engines, hypersonics, and rocket propulsion. He received his Masters and PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida and previously worked there as a postdoctoral scientist. Robert has lectured undergraduate air-breathing propulsion courses and currently still mentors aerospace and mechanical engineering students. He is the AIAA Deputy Director of Education for Region 1.

Chris Reynolds is the Technical Assistant within the office of the Chief Technology Officer of the Lockheed Martin Corporation. Prior to this role, Chris served at both the Space and Aeronautics business areas of Lockheed Martin, including within Advanced Development Programs (ADP) Skunk Works®. Chris specializes in conceptual design, systems architecture, and test working on programs from hybrid airships to hypersonics. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering and an MS in Aerospace Engineering with a specialization in Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimization (MDAO) from the University of Michigan.

Leading High-Performance Teams: Flight Deck Lessons on Psychological Safety for Every Work Environment

This webinar is free of charge and is open to the public.

Amanda Simpson and Col. Carlos Pinedo will describe situations in and out of the flight deck where psychological safety drives success or failure.  Their personal insights are timeless and apply to all leaders in the aerospace business including academia, business, Government, and non-profit.

Speakers:

Carlos Pinedo UsafLt. Col. Carlos Pinedo
USAF

 

Amanda Simpson
Founder and CEO
Third Segment

Aerospace Perspectives Series: Shaping the Future of Aviation with GPU-Powered CFD for Faster, Cleaner Aircraft Design

 On-Demand Recording Available

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As the aviation industry faces pressure to meet net-zero emissions targets by 2050, innovation in aircraft design and technology is paramount. Traditional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools are often slow and resource-inefficient, delaying critical decisions and inflating costs.

Flexcompute’s Flow360, the most trusted GPU-native CFD solution for advanced aviation, accelerates the aerospace design process by optimizing evaluations, enhancing aerodatabase development, and reducing time-to-market while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In collaboration with OEMs, companies like JetZero are using Flow360 to push the boundaries of efficiency and sustainability, advancing revolutionary designs such as blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft, hydrogen-powered, and advanced propulsion models. This strategic partnership is crucial to transforming air travel and achieving global sustainability goals, accelerating the next era of aviation innovation.

In this webinar, hear from Qiqi Wang on the latest advancements in high-fidelity CFD, joined by John Vassberg, Chief Design Officer at JetZero, as they explore the cutting-edge technologies driving the future of aviation. They will discuss how GPU-powered CFD is enabling faster, more sustainable aircraft design and how strategic collaboration is key to realizing the industry’s ambitious goals.

Speakers:

John Vassberg 2025 RoundedJohn Vassberg
Chief Design Officer, JetZero


Qiqi Wang 2025 Rounded Qiqi Wang
Co-Founder, Flexcompute


This webinar is free of charge and is open to the public. Registered attendees will receive a post-event email to access the on-demand recording.

Countdown to Retirement Webinar Series (AIAA Member Exclusive)

 On-Demand Recordings Available

AIAA Members: make sure you are signed in to the site with your member credentials to be able to access the on-demand replay.

This event is offered exclusively to AIAA members. Want to learn more about the benefits of AIAA membership?

Your Roadmap to a Secure & Confident Retirement

Retirement isn’t just about saving—it’s about having a clear strategy to transition from earning a paycheck to living off your investments, pensions, Social Security, and other income sources. The Countdown to Retirement Series is designed to help you prepare for and navigate this critical life stage with confidence.

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Through a series of insightful and practical sessions, you’ll learn how to create a reliable income plan, minimize taxes, manage healthcare costs, and avoid common retirement pitfalls. Whether you’re 10 years away from retirement or already in it, this series will equip you with the tools to make informed decisions and enjoy financial security in your golden years.

  • Weekly, 8 May–19 June (7 weeks, 7 sessions, 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursdays)

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This series is recommended for AIAA members who are mid- to senior career professionals.

Building Your Wealth Webinar Series (AIAA Member Exclusive)

 On-Demand Recordings Available

AIAA Members: make sure you are signed in to the site with your member credentials to be able to access the on-demand replay.

This event is offered exclusively to AIAA members. Want to learn more about the benefits of AIAA membership?

Empower Your Financial Future with Knowledge & Strategy

Financial success doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built through informed decisions, strategic planning, and the right tools. The Building Your Wealth Series is designed to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to take control of your financial future, no matter where you are in your wealth-building journey.

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This series covers key financial topics, from mastering money management and maximizing retirement savings to tax-efficient investing and estate planning. Each session is designed to provide actionable insights, helping you navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence.

  • Weekly, 6 May–17 June (7 weeks, 7 sessions, 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays)

Whether you’re optimizing your 401(k), leveraging a Health Savings Account (HSA), or planning for your legacy, this series will give you the roadmap to build, protect, and grow your wealth for a lifetime.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This series is recommended for AIAA members who are early career professionals, 35 years or younger.

AIAA HyTASP Spring 2025 Webinar (AIAA Member Exclusive)

 On Demand Recording Available

Featuring Special Guest Lecturer, Sarah Popkin, program manager in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office

AIAA Members: make sure you are signed in to the site with your member credentials to be able to access the on demand replay.

This event is offered exclusively to AIAA members. Want to learn more about the benefits of AIAA membership?

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Join us for “AIAA Spring Hypersonics Webinar,” presented by Sarah Popkin, and hosted by the AIAA HyTASP Technical Committee. This webinar sets the stage for understanding DARPA’s role and function in the Department of Defense. To create or prevent strategic surprise, DARPA empowers program managers to develop new, high-risk ideas to advance U.S. technical capability. In space, a new domain called very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is being researched at DARPA across three programs. Those programs and the additional technical and fundamental physics challenges to consider when operating in VLEO will be highlighted

AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization TC Webinar: “A Journey Towards MDAO” (AIAA Member Exclusive)

 On Demand Recording Available

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This on-demand webinar is free of charge and is open to the public.

Want to learn more about the benefits of AIAA membership?

Join us for “A Journey Toward MDAO,” presented by Kumar Bhatia, The Boeing Company (retired). Hosted by the AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Technical Committee, Bhatia will re-present his award lecture and discuss advancing the uses of MDAO (multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization). Bhatia received the 2022 AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award for pioneering use of MDO in transport aircraft and developing a rapid approach for aircraft MDO employing appropriate fidelity analyses.

Aerospace Career Pathways – Public Service (Member Exclusive Webinar)

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 On Demand Recording Available
AIAA Student Webinar Series

May 2020 Topics: Military/Public Service

AIAA Members: make sure you are signed in to the site  with your member credentials to be able to register.

This event is offered exclusively to AIAA members. Want to learn more about the benefits of AIAA membership?

Speaker:
Brian Stahl
U.S. Air Force and Sr. Air Force Advisor
Office of Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Strategy, and Force Development

Col. Brian Stahl earned his commission in 2000 through the United States Air Force Academy and his Master of Aviation and Aerospace Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2006. Over his career in the Air Force, Col. Stahl has accumulated 1,450 hours flying in the F-16, F-22, T-38, and T-37. Since moving from pilot to command, Col. Stahl has advised the Department of Defense on matters of national security affecting the Air Force. In this capacity, he provides crucial, research-driven guidance to decision-makers at the Pentagon who use his recommendations and observations as the basis for important decisions affecting the future of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. aerospace defense policy.

Brian-Stahl
Col. Brian Stahl
U.S. Air Force and Sr. Air Force Advisor

AIAA Aerospace Perspectives Series: To the Moon with Dynetics

To the Moon with Dynetics: The Importance of Lunar Exploration and Utilization

Go behind the scenes of Dynetics Human Landing System featuring an in-depth discussion with industry experts about the exciting opportunities created by a sustained human presence on the moon.

This AIAA Aerospace Perspectives Series episode, hosted by AIAA and presented by Dynetics, a Leidos Company, took place on 15 September 2020,.

* Moon animation courtesy of Ball State University IDIA Lab

Schedule

DanDumbacherCircleHeadshotWelcome
 Dan Dumbacher, AIAA Executive Director



SteveCookCircleHeadshot Opening Remarks
  Steve Cook, Dynetics Deputy Group President



KathyLauriniCircleHeadshotProgrammatic Overview
 Kathy Laurini, Dynetics HLS

 

Explain the Crew Friendly Design

JimDuttonCircleHeadshotJim Dutton is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former NASA astronaut. Dutton was one of 14 members of the 19th NASA astronaut class and logged over 362 hours in space. He now supports the Artemis program and the HLS system as a technical advisor at Dynetics.



LeeArchambaultCircleHeadshotLee Archambault, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former NASA astronaut, was selected as a NASA pilot in 1998 and has logged over 27 days in space. In his current role at Sierra Nevada Corporation, Archambault serves as the director of project engineering.



JanetKavandiCircleHeadshotJanet Kavandi is a retired NASA Astronaut and former NASA Glenn Research Center Director. She has logged more than 33 days in space and currently serves as senior vice president of programs for the Space Systems Group for the Sierra Nevada Corporation.



CarlWalzCircleHeadshotCarl Walz is a U.S. Air Force Retired Colonel and former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of four space flights and has logged a total of 231 days in space with 3 spacewalks in the EMU and Orlan space suits, totaling 19 hours. Following his career at NASA, Walz pursued industry experience and is currently the director of Business Development at Oceaneering.



KimDoeringCircleHeadshotDiscussion
Moderator: Kim Doering, Dynetics Vice President of Space Systems



Panelists


Alan Stern Alan Stern is a planetary scientist, space program executive, aerospace consultant, author and public speaker. Since 2001, he has led NASA’s $880 million New Horizons mission, and in 2018, he was appointed by the Trump administration to a six-year term on the U.S. National Science Board. Stern has over 30 years of experience in space instrumentation development.



JackBurnsCircleHeadshotJack Burns is a professor in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, and is vice president emeritus for Academic Affairs and Research for the CU system. Burns is currently the director of the Network for Exploration and Space Science, a $5 million center of excellence, funded by the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute.



MarkPellerCircleHeadshotMark Peller is the vice president of major development at United Launch Alliance (ULA), and in this position is responsible for development of Vulcan rocket. For commercial launches, the Dynetics HLS system can be flown aboard United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.



DanHendricksonCircleHeadshotDan Hendrickson serves as the vice president of Business Development for Astrobotic, a lunar logistics company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dynetics is the propulsion provider for Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander, which will deliver customer payloads to the lunar surface.



GeorgianaKramerCircleHeadshotGeorgiana Kramer is a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona. She is a planetary geologist with a background in geochemistry, petrology, and remote sensing. She studies and maps the composition and structure of terrestrial planetary bodies; her expertise is the moon.



Live Q&A with Panelists

Closing Remarks

AIAA Professional Virtual Career Fair

Calling all aerospace professionals—recruiters representing some of the biggest names in the industry want to connect with talented professionals like you!

It’s never been easier to get in front of the employers that you want to work for, have face-to-face conversations, tell your story, and make a memorable impression.

By attending, you’ll be more than just another resume. Participants will be able to connect with employers in real time from the comfort of their home or office via desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The best part? It’s FREE TO ATTEND and it takes only a few minutes to register.

Past Organizations that Participated