Energy Systems Award Open for Nominations 10 February 2025 – 1 June 2025

Award Recipients

2024

• Prof Chih-Jen Sung
  University of Connecticut

  Awarded

  Award: 2024 AIAA Energy Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to flame dynamics and low-temperature chemistry for developing fuel-flexible, ultra-low emission, efficient combustion energy systems using conventional and alternative fuels.

2023

• Bengt Aake Sundén
  Awarded

  Award: 2023 AIAA Energy Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: Significant contributions to the development of efficient innovative cooling concepts of gas turbines and aircraft engines by pushing advanced numerical and experimental techniques to the forefront.

2022

• George Crabtree
  Awarded

  Award: 2022 AIAA Energy Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: “For his seminal contributions to defining the next-generation energy system and innovative technological and workforce development pathways to achieve it.”

2021

• Prof Kai H Luo
  University College London

  Awarded

  Award: 2021 AIAA Energy Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For groundbreaking contributions to multiscale multiphysics modeling and simulation that have transformed energy system analysis, prediction, design and optimization through research, innovation, education and leadership

2020

• Prof Alan Williams
  Awarded

  Award: 2020 AIAA Energy Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to energy systems for enhanced efficiency and reduced pollution using experiments and modeling, and for education and services to industry and government.

2019

• Prof Arun Majumdar
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  Award: 2019 Energy Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: For superior contributions to the science and engineering of nanoscale energy-conversion materials and devices and outstanding energy-related service at the highest administrative levels.

2018

• Prof Brian Edward Launder
  The University of Manchester

  Awarded

  Award: 2018 Energy Systems Award

  AIAA Citation: 2018 Energy Systems Award

2017

• Prof Suresh K Aggarwal
  University of Illinois at Chicago

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to energy and combustion systems through pioneering work on advanced spray and flame model development for improved engine performance and pollution reduction.

2016

• Prof Ronald K Hanson
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions on fundamental data provided from renewable and alternative fuels for applications to combustion engines, gasifiers and fluidized bed combustors for promoting fuel flexibility and performance of terrestrial energy systems.

2015

• Prof Tom I-Ping Shih
  Purdue University- Sch of Aero and Astro

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to computational tool development and improvement for use in design, analysis and examination of complex engineering problems involving aerodynamics, propulsion, and energy.

2014

• Dr William E Lear
  University of Florida

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished significant contributions in the energy systems field over many years, most notably in distributed generation, direct methanol fuel cells, and combustion.

2013

• Prof Ryoichi S Amano
  University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering work in the fields of computational fluid dynamics and Terrestrial Energy with interest in propulsion, turbulence and energy systems with successful innovations in research, education and consulting.

2012

• Prof Darrell W Pepper
  University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For sustained development of novel computational modeling techniques related to new advanced energy concepts with exemplary innovations in research, education and consulting.

2011

• Dr Naeim A Henein
  Wayne State University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contribution in the understanding of pollutant formation and clean energy conversion in combustion engines and also as a prolific writer, outstanding educator, mentor and consultant

2010

• Prof Essam E Khalil
  Cairo University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in the design, development and application of energy efficient combustors, furnaces and buildings, and for his research contributions in education, research, and consulting.

2009

• Dr Robert C Winn
  Engineering Systems, Inc.

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For sustained and outstanding contributions to energy systems, heat transfer and fluid flow studies, accident reconstruction, vehicle static, dynamic and aerodynamic analyses, performance analyses of mechanical systems, and analysis and prediction of aircraft icing systems.

2008

• Prof Kuni Kitagawa
  Nagoya University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For sustained development of novel laser diagnostics techniques that have assisted in the development of high efficiency energy conservation devices with successful innovations in research, education, and consulting.

2007

• Dr Mark J Lewis
  Science & Technology Policy Inst/Inst for Def Analyses

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions as a teacher, researcher, and advisor in advancing fundamental understanding of propulsion and fuels research that increased energy conservation and global awareness.

2006

• Dr Jim Swithenbank
  University of Sheffield

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For extensive and pioneering contributions in combustion for clean energy utilization, mathematical modeling, and diagnostic tools development through sustained efforts in research, education and application.

2005

• Prof James H Whitelaw
  Imperial College

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions as a teacher, researcher, and consultant, and for significant contributions to the understanding development and applications of laser giagnostics and math mmodeling resulting in significant increase in energy efficiency and pollution reduction.

2004

• Prof William A Sirignano
  University of California, Irvine

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For fundamental pioneering research on fuel atomization, spray combustion, and turbulent flames in gas-turbine and automotive engines, and for the innovative turbine-burner and miniature-liquid-film-combustor concepts

2003

• Dr Gabriel D Roy
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding vision in formulating and advancing innovative research leading to stable, more efficient operation of energy conversion systems, with significantly reduced noise and emissions.

2002

• Dr Merrill K King
  NASA Headquarters

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in the area of energy systems involving solid fuels, and for guiding and advancing innovative research in microgravity combustion that has led to numerous terrestrial applications with significant energy conservation and clean combustion systems.

2001

• Prof Subramanyam R Gollahalli
  The University of Oklahoma

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions to education, research, professional service, and advancement of the fields of energy and combustion

2000

• Adel F Sarofim
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding and wide-ranging contributions in the areas of combustion and heat transfer including problems of pollution reduction from fossil-fuelled power systems

1999

• Dr Chung K Law
  Princeton University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the science and technology of combustion in chemical energy systems

1998

• Janos M Beer
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions as an educator, researcher and consultant in techniques, developments and applications in the field of combustion

1997

• Dr Ken N C Bray
  University of Cambridge

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the understanding of the interaction between flow turbulence and combustion chemistry and to its modeling in computational simulations of practical combustion systems

1996

• Alexander I Kalina
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For originating a new high efficiency power plant cycle and to bring this cycle from an idea to an operational demonstration power plant

1995

• Dr William D Jackson
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For serving as a leader in energy technology an systems with particular recognition as a principal in the development, on an international basis, of magnetohydrodynamic electrical power generation.

1994

• Dr Geoffrey J Sturgess
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to gas turbine combustion and energy systems, especially in the areas of combustion stability, heat transfer, and pollutant emissions and control

1993

• Prof Dilip R Ballal
  University of Dayton

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions as a teacher and researcher in experimental and theoretical techniques, developments and applications in the field of combustion and environment

1992

• Prof David G Lilley
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions as a teacher, researcher and consultant in the areas of swirl flows in combustors and furnaces, mathematical modeling, fuels and fires

1991

• Dr C. Byron Winn
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For long lasting contributions to energy conversion and conservation through education, consultation, and research, and as an innovator in applying aerospace technology to terrestrial energy systems.

1990

• Prof Ashwani K Gupta
  University of Maryland

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding experimental and theoretical work on combustion, pollution control, alternative fuels, optical diagnostics, flowfield modeling, and fouling of heat exchangers have significantly enhanced the broad field of energy conversion and utilization

1984

• Dr L. Skip Fletcher
  Texas A&M University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant contributions in the area of energy systems, for implementation of very successful energy conservation programs, for training young engineers in energy practice and for outstanding service to the AIAA energy community

1983

• Prof Stanford S Penner
  University of California, San Diego

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significantly contributing to future fossil-fuel utilization by effectively leading prestigious national committees over a five-year period in detailed evaluations of opportunities, problems, potential solutions and R&D needs for enhanced development of fossil-fuel reserves

1981

• Dr Kenell J Touryan
  National Renewable Energy Laboratory

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For notable and continuing contributions to the fluid and thermal sciences, particularly thermohydraulics, solar total energy systems and MHD and for leadership in the development of advanced solar energy programs