Ground Testing Award Open for Nominations 10 November 2024 15 January 2025

Established in 1975, the Ground Testing Award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or effective utilization of technology, procedures, facilities, or modeling techniques for flight simulation, space simulation, propulsion testing, aerodynamic testing, or other ground testing associated with aeronautics and astronautics.

This annual award is generally presented at the AIAA AVIATION Forum/ASCEND

Deadlines:
Accepting Online Nominations: 10 November
Nomination Deadline: 15 January
Endorsement Letters Deadline: 1 February

Award Recipients

2024

  • Mr Marvin E Sellers
    Axient
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 AIAA Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: In recognition of decades of tremendous contributions to the national ground test and evaluation community, most particularly in the advancement of pressure-sensitive paint techniques.

2023

  • Dr Luca Maddalena
    The University of Texas at Arlington
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 AIAA Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions in the development of arc-heated test facilities, advanced optical diagnostics, and data processing.

2022

  • Dr James C Ross
    NASA Ames Research Center
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 AIAA Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: “In recognition of decades of exemplary service and leadership in ground testing, advancing critical technologies including heavy vehicles, military aircraft, and NASA’s Multipurpose Crew Vehicle Program.”

2021

  • Prof Guillermo Paniagua
    Purdue University
    Awarded
    Award: 2021 AIAA Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: Significant contributions in aerothermal highspeed flow instrumentation and novel wind tunnels to support the Aerospace industry, outstanding service to AIAA, dissemination, and mentorship.

2020

  • Mr Mark R Melanson
    Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
    Awarded
    Award: 2020 Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: For contributions to development/ground testing of F-35, for decades of wind tunnel testing, and for sustained contributions to AIAA in multiple leadership roles.

2019

  • James T Heineck
    NASA-Ames Research Center
    Awarded
    Award: 2019 Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the areas of optical measurement technique development and implementation, flow visualization, and high-speed photography across the NASA ground test community.
  • Mr Edward T Schairer
    NASA Ames Research Center
    Awarded
    Award: 2019 Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the areas of optical measurement technique development and implementation, flow visualization, and high-speed photography across the NASA ground test community.

2018

  • Norbert M Ulbrich
    Jacobs Technology
    Awarded
    Award: 2018 Ground Testing Award
    AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding contributions to ground testing, balance calibration methods, and wind tunnel measurement corrections over many decades of dedicated service.

2017

  • Dan E Marren
    AEDC/TSTT (White Oak)
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For impactful and sustained contributions to every aspect of test sciences. His efforts enabled new capabilities, advanced diagnostics and revitalized the next generation testing workforce.

2016

  • Prof Zonglin Jiang
    State Key lab of High Temperature Gas Dynamics
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For skillful leadership in conceiving, developing and successful commissioning of the world’s largest shock tunnel capable of true hypersonic flight simulation.

2015

  • Mr ROBERT F IDE
    NASA GLENN RESEARCH CNTR
    Awarded
    Award: -
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding technical achievements in icing and wind tunnel calibration and testing at the NASA Glenn Research Center Icing Research Tunnel and other ground test facilities.

2014

  • Mr Jeffrey E Haas
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For exceptional management of NASA Glenn Research Center’s test facility assets; for significant contributions to advance aerodynamic and propulsion ground testing; and for leadership and service to AIAA.

2013

  • Dr Jack Sokhey
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For exceptional service, leadership, and technical contribution in the advancement of jet engine technology; performed through testing of small-scale and full-scale research models and jet engines

2012

  • Prof Steven P Schneider
    Purdue University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For exceptional technical contributions and leadership in the advancement and utilization of quiet hypersonic ground test facilities: fostering scientific progress and supporting national technical priorities.

2011

  • Dr Michael S Holden
    CUBRC
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For unique contributions in the development and construction of hypervelocity ground test facilities and their application to experimental research over a wide range of problems in hypersonic flow.

2010

  • Mr Frederick L Shope
    Retired f/Aerospace Testing Alliance
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in leadership, sustained technical excellence, and innovative development and application of analysis techniques and computational simulations for ground-test facilities.

2009

  • Dr Stan Powell
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Dr. Powell’s original research and ability to bring together the computational and experimental have served the ground test community for over twenty-five years. He is a unique asset in the ground test community.

2008

  • Dr Douglas C Rabe
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For leadership and significant contributions leading to the understanding of compressors through both facility improvements and research investigations.

2007

  • Dr Frank W Steinle Jr
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For an exemplary career in experimental aerodynamics, wind tunnel and test technique development and leadership to the advancement of the state-of-the-art in ground testing.

2005

  • Blair B Gloss
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the ground testing community and in recognition of his knowledge and expertise in the field of subsonic and supersonic aeronautic ground test facilities.

2004

  • Dr Hugh W Coleman
    The University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering efforts in experimental uncertainty analysis with significant methodology advances and effective dissemination of knowledge through a straight-forward engineering approach in their text and short-course.
  • Dr W Glenn Steele
    Retired f/Mississippi State University
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering efforts in experimental uncertainty analysis with significant methodology advances and effective dissemination of knowledge through a straight-forward engineering approach in their text and short-course.”

2003

  • Dr Henry T Nagamatsu
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Prof. Nagamatsu has designed, built, and operated numerous ground testing facilities including Hypersonic testing facilities, wind tunnels transonic and combustion facilities. He has pioneered hypersonic research in the 1940s and 1950s

2002

  • Dr John I Erdos
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For visionary technical leadership and engineering innovation in developing experimental methods and facilities that have significantly advanced the state of supersonic and hypersonic aeropropulsion research.

2001

  • Dr Donald R Wilson
    University of Texas Arlington
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the founding and development of comprehensive aerospace ground testing and research center and education a new generation of aerospace professionals

2000

  • Mr. Travis W Binion Jr.
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For lasting contribution to the state-of-the-art of wind tunnel testing in areas of tunnel wall interference, data uncertainty, and flow quality

1999

  • Mr. Lawrence E Putnam
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership toward improvement of customer satisfaction, facility reliability/productivity, and data quality in the experimental facilities of the Langley Research Center

1998

  • Mr. Ivan E Beckwith
    NASA-Langley Research Center
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the insightful development of a new supersonic wind tunnel configuration with disturbance-free flow, thereby affording boundary-layer transition test capability

1997

  • Dr Gary T Chapman
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For lifetime achievements and major contributions to ground testing in measurement and analysis methods, aerodynamic modeling, parameter estimation, CFD code validation and test design.

1996

  • Mr. James P Crowder
    Boeing Commercial Airplane Group
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the development and application of innovative experimental methods and flow field visualization techniques for aerodynamic testing.

1995

  • Dr A George Havener
    HQUSAFA/DFAN
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For innovative technical contributions and visionary leadership in aerodynamic flow diagnostics and the pioneering of Computational Flow Imaging

1994

  • Dr John W Davis
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For leadership, management, and technical achievements that contribute significantly to maintaining U.S. excellence in aerospace ground testing, engineering performance, and flight simulation

1993

  • Prof Raymond J Stalker
    The University of Queensland
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering a practical free-piston driver for hypersonic shock tunnels and the applicationachines to real gas aerothermodynamcs and high speed combustion research

1992

  • Mr Charles G Miller III
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding technical contributions in the development of hypersonic/hypervelocity wind tunnels and their utilization through the development and application of innovative operational procedures and measurements techniques

1991

  • Mr. Robert L Trimpi
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering work in the conception, development and application of novel facilities, instrumentation and test techniques for experimental aerodynamic studies

1990

  • Dr Eugene E Covert
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For leadership in developing and implementing innovative techniques and advancing state-of-the-art wind tunnel testing at subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic speeds.

1989

  • Mr. James M Cooksey
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the state-of-the-art of trisonic wind tunnel technology, including component and equipment design, calibration and test techniques; and, service to the technical community in disseminating knowledge in other areas. His consistent emphasis on excellence has made a difference

1988

  • Charles E Wittliff
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For contributions advancing both the science and engineering of short-duration hypersonic testing, including similitude and principle of hypersonic shock tunnel operation, as well as development of test instrumentation and test techniques

1987

  • Robert E Smith Sr
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For his technical and managerial leadership in developing and implementing innovative new techniques and systems for ground test and evaluation of air breathing and rocket aerospace propulsion systems

1986

  • Dr Kazimierz J Orlik-Ruckemann
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to dynamic stability research by anticipating experimental simulation requirements and developing the needed advanced techniques for dynamic wind tunnel testing

1985

  • Billy J Griffith
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For 20 years of sustained performance in addressing hypersonic flight problems by synergistic combination of experimental aerodynamics, basic aerodynamic simulation, and computational fluid dynamics

1984

  • James C Young
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: In recognition of singularly outstanding contributions to the wind tunnel testing and aerodynamic design of the Space Shuttle. His technical and managerial contributions have been vital to the Shuttle''s success from concept through flight

1983

  • Dr James G Mitchell
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in the formulation and implementation of the Uniform Engine Testing Program under the auspices of the Propulsion and Energetics Panel of AGARD to enhance the quality and uniformity of turbine engine performance assessments

1982

  • Mr. Gerald L Winchenbach
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For 20 years of sustained excellence in aeroballistic testing at the USAF Von Karman Facility Hypervelocity Range G and at the USAF Aeroballistic Research Facility

1981

  • Mr. Glenn Norfleet
    Sverdrup Technology Inc
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For continuous technical and managerial direction for the development of the AECD Hypervelocity Track G, which resulted insignificant advanced in the state-of-the-art of ground test technology

1980

  • Dr Frank L Wattendorf
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering accomplishments, outstanding leadership, expert advice and innumerable contributions in the advancement of ground testing facilities and capabilities throughout the world.

1979

  • Dr Jack D Whitfield
    Rt 2 Box 150A
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding technical achievement in experimental studies of boundary layer transition at supersonic and hypersonic speeds for managerial guidance in the development of high Reynolds number aerodynamic test facilities

1978

  • Arthur B Doty
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding pioneering contributions and consistent leadership in the fields of training, simulation technology, and engineering acquisition methods and procedures

1976

  • Bernhard H Goethert
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding and persistent contributions to the fields of aerodynamic, propulsion and space simulation testing through the development of technology, procedures, facilities, and modeling techniques