Daniel Guggenheim Medal Open for Nominations 10 February 2025 – 1 July 2025

Award Recipients

2024

• Dr Michimasa Fujino
  Honda Aircraft Company

  Awarded

  Award: 2024 Guggenheim Medal

  AIAA Citation: For technical innovation and leadership in conceiving, designing, and bringing HondaJet to a leading position in the business jet market.

2023

• Dr Wayne Johnson
  NASA Ames Research Center

  Awarded

  Award: 2023 Daniel Guggenheim Medal

  AIAA Citation: For his landmark contributions to vertical flight aeronautics and resulting computational codes enabling the design of the first tilt rotor aircraft, eVTOL aircraft, and the Mars Helicopter.

2021

• Dr Alan C Brown
  Awarded

  Award: 2021 Daniel Guggenheim Medal

  AIAA Citation: For Innovation and Technical Leadership of the Design and Production of the F-117, the First Stealth Fighter/Bomber Aircraft.

2020

• Ozires Silva
  Awarded

  Award: 2020 Daniel Guggenheim Medal

  AIAA Citation: For his leadership in the conception, production, and promotion of commercial aircraft, for founding Embraer S.A., and for his important roles in government and academia.

2019

• Dr Sheila E Widnall
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  Award: In recognition of her outstanding contributions to aerodynamics through research, such as the identification of the Widnall Instability, as well as through education and public service including serving as Secretary of the U.S. Air Force.

2018

• Prof Irvin Glassman
  Awarded

  Award: “In recognition of his profound impact on the application of combustion science and engineering to propulsion research and the successful development of propulsion systems.”

  AIAA Citation: “In recognition of his profound impact on the application of combustion science and engineering to propulsion research and the successful development of propulsion systems.”

2017

• Dr Paul M Bevilaqua
  Awarded

  Award: “For the conception and demonstration of the multi-cycle propulsion system and other technologies enabling the production of the F-35 supersonic V/STOL Strike Fighters.”

  AIAA Citation: “For the conception and demonstration of the multi-cycle propulsion system and other technologies enabling the production of the F-35 supersonic V/STOL Strike Fighters.”

2016

• Prof Walter G Vincenti
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For seminal pioneering supersonic wind tunnel research, education in high temperature gas dynamics, and exceptional contributions to the history of engineering technology.

2015

• Dr Antony Jameson
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For exceptional contributions to algorithmic innovation and the development of computational fluid dynamic codes that have made important contributions to aircraft design.

2014

• Mr. Alan R Mulally
  Ford Corporation

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For leadership in the creation, design, development, and manufacture of commercial airplanes, exemplified by the Boeing 777.

2013

• Abraham Karem
  Karem Aircraft Inc

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a lifetime of innovative fixed and rotary wing unmanned vehicle designs.

2012

• Frank Robinson
  Robinson Helicopter Company

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For conception, design, and manufacture of a family of quiet, affordable, reliable, and versatile helicopters.

2011

• Mr. Elbert L Rutan
  Scaled Composites LLC

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a distinguished career of highly innovative and successful flight vehicles ranging from home-built designed to Voyager and SpaceShipOne.

2010

• Dr Robert H Liebeck
  The Boeing Company

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished engineering as evidenced by the conception and development of Liebeck airfoils and Blended Wing Body aircraft.

2009

• Dr Arthur E Bryson
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a lifetime of seminal contributions to real systems, creating and applying practical optimal control and estimation techniques to airplanes, rotorcraft, and missiles.

2008

• Prof Earl H Dowell
  Duke University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to nonlinear aeroelasticity, structural dynamics and unsteady aerodynamics which had a significant influence on aeronautics and for contributions to education and public service in aerospace engineering.

2007

• Dr Alexander H Flax
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to aerospace engineering in aeroelasticity, unsteady aerodynamics and flight mechanics, and for exceptional leadership of engineering organizations including service to the U.S. Department of Defense.

2006

• Dr Robert G Loewy
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to rotary-wing aeroelasticity and unsteady aerodynamics which had an enormous influence on rotary-wing technology and his contributions to education and public service in aeronautics.

2005

• Dr Eugene E Covert
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For exemplary leadership in aeronautics teaching and research, development of significant state-of-the-art aerodynamic testing techniques, and outstanding contributions to public service.

2004

• Dr Courtland D Perkins
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to aeronautics in research and teaching in stability and control and superlative leadership at the national and international levels

2003

• Dr Holt Ashley
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to research, education, and engineering in aeroelasticity, unsteady aerodynamics, and aircraft design

2002

• John G Borger
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant pioneering contributions to aircraft and the airline industry from flying boats to jet aircraft

2001

• Dr Richard T Whitcomb
  N A S A

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For seminal contributions in aeronautics, including the development of the Area Rule, Supercritical airfoil. And Winglet concept, which are the basis for modern aerodynamic design

2000

• Dr William H Pickering
  Lignetics Inc

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of a distinguished career that pioneered and shaped the exploration of our solar system and for extraordinary contributions to engineering and space

1999

• Prof Frank E Marble
  California Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For major fundamental theoretical and experimental contributions to the fields of internal aerodynamics, combustion and propulsion especially with respect to gas turbines and rockets, and educating generations of leaders in industry and academia

1998

• Richard Coar
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership and innovative contributions in providing advanced aeronautical and space propulsion systems

1997

• Dr Abe Silverstein
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For technical contributions and visionary leadership in advancing the technology of aircraft and propulsion performance, and for the foresight in establishing the Mercury and Gemini manner space flight activities

1996

• William R Sears
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For lifelong contributions to Aeronautics in industry and academia from the aerodynamics of the flying wing to the invention of the adaptive wind tunnel. ”

1995

• Mr. Robert C Seamans Jr.
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For life-long technical contributions and technical leadership in academia, industry and government as NASA deputy administrator during the Apollo program and in several other government positions

1994

• Dr Helmut H Korst
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a legacy of developments in aeronautics where none previously existed; for mentoring a cascade of students and colleagues dedicated to the art and science of fluid mechanics and for a lifetime of inspiration and leadership to the international engineering community

1993

• Dr Ludwig Boelkow
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For visionary leadership and innovation in the design of rotorcraft, light aircraft, missiles and space systems

1992

• Bernard L Koff
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For continuing leadership in the aircraft gas turbine industry producing many innovative and technological breakthroughs in material and design

1991

• Dr Hans P Von Ohain
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering the development of turbo jet propulsion resulting in the first flight of a jet powered aircraft in 1939 and his lifetime achievements in aeronautical propulsion dynamics

1990

• Mr. Joseph F Sutter
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding engineering achievement, management, and leadership in the innovative development of three generations of commercial jet aircraft - in particular the 747 - and his contribution to the enhancement of safety in air and space

1989

• Fred E Weick
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For development of the NACA cowl and the steerable tricycle landing gear which resulted in significant improvement in practical aircraft design and performance

1988

• J R D Tata
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a lifetime of significant contributions to aviation, for pioneering work in developing commercial air travel in India and Asia, and for his leadership in establishing Air India as a major international link between Asia and the rest of the world

1987

• Dr Paul B MacCready
  AeroVironment Inc

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his combination of high flying gossamer vision and down to earth engineering skill which made the ancient dream of human powered flight come true and for his contemporary imagination in re-creating the ancient pterdactyl, Quetzalcoatlus Northropi

1986

• Prof Hans W Liepmann
  California Inst of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership in fluid mechanics research and education. His influence contributed significantly to the development of a generation of outstanding leaders in the field

1985

• Mr. Thornton A Wilson
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a lifetime contribution to the successful development of commercial and military aircraft and for his outstanding leadership and management skills

1983

• Prof Nicholas J Hoff
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a lifetime of significant contributions to the theory and practice of aeronautical structures design as an outstanding scholar and educator

1982

• David Lewis Jr.
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his longstanding contributions to the theory and practice of aeronautical structures design as an outstanding scholar and educator

1981

• Clarence L Johnson
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his brilliant design of a wide range of pace-setting commercial, combat, and reconnaissance aircraft and for his innovative management techniques which developed these aircraft in record time at minimum cost

1980

• Edward C Wells
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his outstanding contributions to the management concepts for the development of complex aerospace systems, and for his significant personal accomplishment in the design and production of a longline of the world’s most famous commercial and military aircraft.

1979

• Mr. Gerhard Neumann
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the development of highly efficient aircraft engines for commercial and military purposes, including creation of one of the first successful turbofan engines which contributed significantly to the efficiency and success of the airline industry

1978

• Edward H Heinemann
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the innovative design of military airplanes which are noted or longevity of service, versatility of tasks, simplicity of design, light but rugged structure, high performance and elegance of line

1977

• Cyrus R Smith
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant public service of enduring value in development of military and civil air transportation and for his contributions as a dynamic leader and articulate spokesman for U.S. aviation progress

1976

• Marcel Dassault
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For notable achievement in development, production and marketing of many types of aircraft of high performance and outstanding leadership in world aviation

1975

• Dwane L Wallace
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his many engineering, management and leadership contributions in the development of general aviation form a novelty forty years ago to a key part of the world''s transportation system today

1974

• Floyd L Thompson
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For farsighted development of men and facilities, and for decisive leadership of research that provided technological foundations for manned flight beyond the speed of sound, safe re-entry of spacecraft, and successful exploration of space

1972

• William C Mentzer
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For manifold accomplishments in airline engineering, maintenance and economic disciplines, which accomplishments contributed significantly to the achievement of today''s civil air transportation systems

1971

• Sir Archibald E Russell
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his personal devotion and many contributions to aircraft engineering and design and particularly for his outstanding leadership of the Bristol team in the development of the Anglo-French "Concorde" Supersonic Transport Aircraft

1970

• Jakob Ackeret
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For original and outstanding contributions to aerodynamics, aviation, and engineering education

1969

• H Julian Allen
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For personal contributions to outstanding research and development leading to vastly improved re-entry bodies, missiles, satellites, and spacecraft, and for leadership in directing and inspiring a large group of research men at Ames Laboratory

1968

• H M Horner
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his lifelong dedication and significant contributions to the advancement of modern aviation through the development and production of an outstanding series of aircraft power plants and space-craft propulsion engines

1967

• Mr. George S Schairer
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his many contributions to the achievement of outstanding progress in sub-sonic flight, and in the promise of supersonic flight, and in the equipment and methods for space exploration

1966

• Charles S Draper
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions to aeronautical education and significant developments in new fields of aircraft instrumentation, in particular for pioneering inertial guidance techniques making possible in rout navigation independently of earth references; for over twenty-five years of leadership, in the technology of control and guidance of flight vehicle, and with the training of engineers in this vital field of aeronautics and astronautic

1965

• Sir Sydney Camm
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For over fifty years of continuous dedication to the design of military aircraft, the pioneering of many new concepts and the creation of many successful aircraft representative of the best traditions of British design skill

1964

• Robert H Goddard
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering in rock development and astronautics, including the first liquid propelled rocket flight, and contributions toward aerodynamically applicable reaction engines

1962

• James H Kindelberger
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For technical and industrial leadership in producing excellent aircraft, and space equipment from early fighters to the X-15 space plane

1961

• Mr. Jerome Lederer
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his lifelong dedication to the cause of flight safety and his constant untiring efforts to reduce the hazards of aviation

1960

• Grover Loening
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: Pioneer, engineer, public servant, For a lifetime devoted to the advancement of aeronautics in America

1959

• Sir George Edwards
  Albury Heights

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a life time devoted to the design of military and commercial aircraft culminating in the successful introduction to world-wide commercial service of the first turbine powered propeller driven aircraft

1958

• William Littlewood
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For leadership and continuous personal participation over a quarter of a century in developing the equipment and operating techniques of air transport

1957

• Mr. Arthur E Raymond
  Awarded

1956

• Frederick B Rentschler
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a wide range of major achievements throughout a lifetime devoted to aviation with specific reference to his many notable contributions to the vital aircraft engine field

1955

• Theodore von Karman
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For long continued leadership in the development of aerodynamic theory and in its application to the practical problems of flight in education in the aeronautical sciences and in stimulating international cooperation in aeronautical research

1954

• Clarence D Howe
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: Engineer and statesman, Minister of Trade and Commerce and Minister of Defense Production for initiating and organizing commercial air routes and services, promoting aeronautical research, development and production of aircraft and engines, and advancing the art of aeronautics

1953

• Charles A Lindbergh
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering achievements in flight and air navigation

1952

• Sir Geoffrey De Havilland
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For forty years of pioneering in military and commercial aircraft and the development of long-range jet transport

1951

• Igor I Sikorsky
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a lifetime of outstanding contributions to aeronautics, including pioneering with multi-engine airplanes, flying boats, amphibians and helicopters

1950

• Hugh L Dryden
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership in aeronautical research and fundamental contributions to aeronautical science

1949

• Edward P Warner
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering in research and a continuous record of contributions to the art and science of aeronautics

1948

• Leroy R Grumman
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in successfully advancing aircraft design both for Naval and peacetime use

1947

• Lester D Gardner
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in advancing aeronautics, particularly for his conception and organization of the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences

1946

• Sir Frank Whittle
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering the development of turbo-jet propulsion of aircraft

1945

• Theodore P Wright
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the development of civil and military aircraft, and for notable achievement in assuring the success of our wartime aircraft production program

1944

• Lawrence D Bell
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For achievement in design and construction of military aircraft and for outstanding contributions to the methods of production

1943

• Edmund T Allen
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For major contributions to aeronautics leading to important advance in airplane design, flight research, and airline operation, particularly for the presentation of new methods for operational control and for the development of scientific and systematic methods in the flight testing of aircraft for basic design and performance data

1941

• Juan T Trippe
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the development and successful operation of oceanic air transport

1940

• Glenn L. Martin
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions to aeronautical development and the production of many types of aircraft of high performance.

1939

• Donald Douglas Jr.
  Awarded

1938

• Sir Alfred H Fedden
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions to the development of aircraft engine design and for the specific design of the Sleeve Valve aircraft engine

1937

• Hugh Eckener
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For notable contributions to transoceanic air-transport and to international cooperation in aeronautics

1936

• George W. Lewis
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneer and creative work in the theory of dynamics.

1934

• William E Boeing
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For successful pioneering an achievement in aircraft manufacturing and air transport

1933

• Jerome Hunsaker
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions to the science of aerodynamics, to the science and art of aircraft design, and to the practical construction and commercial utilization of rigid airships

1932

• Juan de la Cierva
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For development of the theory and practice of the autogiro

1931

• Frederick W Lanchester
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions to the fundamental theory of aerodynamics

1930

• Ludwig Prandtl
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneer and creative work in the theory of dynamics

1929

• Orville Wright
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the design and construction, with his brother now deceased, of the first successful engine-propelled airplane