Mechanics and Control of Flight Award Open for Nominations 10 February 2026 – 1 June 2026

Award Recipients

2024

• Mr David G Mitchell
  Mitchell Aerospace Research

  Awarded

  Award: 2024 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award

  AIAA Citation: For industry-defining research and globally recognized leadership in flying qualities, handling qualities, and PIO evaluation in both fixed wing and rotary wing vehicles.

2023

• Dr Robert H Bishop
  University of South Florida

  Awarded

  Award: 2023 AIAA Mechanics & Control of Flight Award

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions to spacecraft control systems, especially for pioneering advancements of guidance and navigation systems for the Space Shuttle and ALHAT, and precision landings.

2022

• Prof Mark L Psiaki
  Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation

  Awarded

  Award: 2022 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award

  AIAA Citation: For the development of new nonlinear estimation algorithms and for their application to problems in satellite attitude and orbit determination and in GPS signal processing.

2021

• Dr Fred Y Hadaegh
  Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

  Awarded

  Award: 2021 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award

  AIAA Citation: Extraordinary contributions for advances in the theory, computation, and implementation of autonomous guidance, navigation, and control of single and distributed spacecraft systems.

2020

• Dr Christopher N D'Souza
  NASA-Johnson Space Center

  Awarded

  Award: For seminal contributions to the theory and practice of autonomous guidance, navigation, and control of space vehicles.

2019

• Dr E Glenn Lightsey
  Georgia Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  Award: 2019 Mechanics and Control of Flight Award

  AIAA Citation: “For far-reaching advances toward low-cost space mission concepts through groundbreaking technological developments in sensor and actuator systems for small satellites.”

2018

• Dr Hanspeter Schaub
  Awarded

  Award: For the far-reaching theoretical and practical advances in spacecraft guidance, navigation and control, particularly in the fields of relative motion and nonlinear attitude dynamics and control, as well as space debris remediation dynamics.”

  AIAA Citation: For the far-reaching theoretical and practical advances in spacecraft guidance, navigation and control, particularly in the fields of relative motion and nonlinear attitude dynamics and control, as well as space debris remediation dynamics.”

2017

• Dr Robert E Skelton
  Texas A&M University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For lasting contributions at the interfaces of mechanics and control of flight and leading the world in analysis, design, modeling and control of tensegrity structures.

2016

• Dr Srinivas R Vadali
  Texas A&M Univ

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For lasting contribution to the understanding of the relative motion of satellite formations and the control of this relative motion.

2014

• Prof Maruthi R Akella
  University of Texas at Austin

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For far-reaching theoretical and practical advances in aircraft/spacecraft guidance, navigation and control, particularly nonlinear attitude estimation and control.

2013

• Dr Eugene A Morelli
  NASA Langley Research Center

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering research and innovative scientific contributions in the area of aircraft system identification with applications to flight mechanics and flight control systems.

2012

• Dr John L Crassidis
  University at Buffalo, State University of New York

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For fundamental theoretical, computational, and mission support in spacecraft attitude estimation

2011

• Prof Naira Hovakimyan
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For ground breaking work in L1 robust adaptive control of nonlinear uncertain systems, vision-based guidance, navigation and control, and cooperative path planning of UAVs.

2010

• Dr Fariba Fahroo
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For the development and implementation in software of pseudospectral methods for the solution of complex nonlinear optimal control problems.
• Dr I. Michael Ross
  Naval Postgraduate School

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For the development and implementation in software of pseudospectral methods for the solution of complex nonlinear optimal control problems.

2009

• Dr Eugene Lavretsky
  Boeing Engineering Operations & Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the development and technical transition of adaptive flight control technologies into unmanned aircraft and advanced weapon systems.

2008

• Prof Ping Lu
  San Diego State University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions in advanced guidance algorithms for entry and ascent flight.

2007

• Dr Shannon L Coffey
  Naval Research Laboratory

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For developments in parallel processing that have resulted in a significant improvement in the U.S. capability in space situational awareness.

2006

• Prof Bong Wie
  Iowa State University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For innovative research on advanced control of complex spacecraft such as solar sails, large flexible structures, and agile imaging satellites equipped with CMGs.

2005

• Michael J Heller
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding improvements to F/A-18 high-angle-of-attack flying qualities, providing increased maneuverability and enhanced safety.

2004

• Dr Kevin A Wise
  Boeing Defense, Space & Security

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For active involvement in the application of guidance, navigation and control methodologies in flight control problems for jet aircraft and missiles

2003

• Dr Gottfried P Sachs
  Technical University of Munich

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For an outstanding contribution to the field of advanced, 3-dimensional guidance displays, particularly by developing and validating an innovative predictor-tunnel display for achieving maximum pilot-aircraft system performance.

2002

• Dr John E Prussing
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For an outstanding contribution to the theory and computation of optimal spacecraft trajectories by developing a practical, necessary and sufficient condition test for optimality

2001

• Mr James K Miller
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of expectional contributions to the disciplines of astrodynamics and space exploration and in particular for being the technical innovator of the navigation system used to plan and implement the first asteroid orbiter.

2000

• Prof Ronald A Hess
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For advances toward the design and analytical evaluation of flight control systems, emphasizing the safe piloted operation of aircraft.
• Prof Robert F Stengel
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For many contributions to the theory and practive of aerospace control and guidance, and for educating a gneration of students in these concepts.

1999

• Dr George H Born
  University of Colorado Boulder

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For notable achievements in astrodynamics—navigation, precise orbit determination, and satellite applications to geophysics and oceanography.

1998

• Dr Kyle T Alfriend
  Texas A&M University (career opp)

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For significant contributions to orbital mechanics and satellite attitude and control
• Dr F. Landis Markley
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For lasting contributions in spacecraft orbit and attitude dynamics, estimation and control, and satellite operations

1997

• Dr David K Schmidt
  Retired f/University of Colorado

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions to the field of dynamics and control of aerospace vehicles, especially in the multidisciplinary areas of aeroservoelastic interactions and aircraft handling characteristics

1996

• Prof Vinod J Modi
  The University of British Columbia

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering, unique, and most important contributions toward the advancement of spacecraft dynamics, controls and space robotics, and for pervasive academic impact upon several generations of spacecraft dynamics and control student.s

1995

• Dr Robert D Culp
  Retired f/University of Colorado

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant and lasting contributions to orbit determination techniques, atmospheric reentry theory, and optimal flight mechanics, including work on space debris, satellite fragmentation modeling, hazard to resident space objects, and the space environment.

1994

• Dr Nguyen Vinh
  University of Michigan

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the mathematical theory of optimal control, applied to the flight mechanics of aerospace vehicles in the atmosphere and in space.

1993

• Dr Jer-Nan Juang
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For multi-faceted contributions to the mechanical design, controller designs, and system identification for control of flexible structures

1992

• Dr Anthony J Calise
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant contributions to singular perturbation theory and its applications to real-time, approximate, optimal guidance of aerospace vehicles

1991

• Dr F William Nesline Jr.
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership in pioneering the development of Observer Guidance, a unique approach to homing missile guidance that substantially increases the capability of U.S. Naval and land forces to defend themselves against all types of modern air threats

1990

• Dr Roger E Diehl
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of exceptional contributions to the discipline of trajectory analysis and, in particular, for his discovery of the Venus-Earth-Gravity-Assist trajectory used by the Galileo spacecraft

1989

• Dr Byron D Tapley
  University of Texas at Austin

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership and contributions in the development, education and application of precision orbit determination technology to oceanographic, geodetic and navigation satellites

1988

• Mr. William H Phillips
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding theoretical and practical contributions which have significantly advanced aeronautics and astronautics in the fields of aircraft and spacecraft stability, control, guidance, flying qualities and simulation research.

1987

• Dr Leonard Meirovitch
  VPISU

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For extensive research results on spacecraft flight dynamics and control, especially for recent methods for suppressing vibration of large flexible spacecraft.

1986

• Dr Heinz Erzberger
  NASA-Ames

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For work in development of flight path optimization techniques for commercial aircraft; for his pioneering work in development of guidance systems and for integration of these techniques into the national air traffic control system

1985

• Dr Jason L Speyer
  UCLA

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For contributions to the deterministic and stochastic optimal control theory and its application to missile, manned spacecraft and aircraft guidance, navigation and control; for his quality research papers and his contributions a as a teacher of aerospace sciences

1984

• Dr George Leitmann
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For fundamental contributions to the theory and practices of flight mechanics, optimal control, and differential games, both through research and teaching

1983

• Dr John L Junkins
  Texas A&M University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant contributions in analytical dynamics, optimal spacecraft maneuver strategies, modeling of the gravity field and especially for practical solutions of nonlinear two-point-boundary value problems to determine optimal attitude maneuvers

1982

• Dr Angelo Miele
  Rice University MS-322

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For fundamental contributions to the mechanics and control of flight of aircraft, missiles, satellites and spaceships, and in particular for the development of innovative techniques for the analysis and computation of flight trajectories

1981

• Dr Robert W Farquhar
  KinetX, Inc.

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For unique and sustained contributions to the technology of the control and application of libration-point satellites resulting in the successful flight of the world''s first libration point mission

1980

• Dr Arthur E Bryson
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For developing the technology to predict high angle of attack, stall and spin characteristics for aircraft and for improving those characteristics through combined aerodynamic and automatic control design

1979

• Mr. Morris A Ostgaard
  Morris A Ostgaard Consultant

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For sustained achievements in modern control technology pioneering the use of Control Configured Vehicles, Fly-By-Wire, Digital Control and Active Control technology and achieving international recognition and the respect of leaders within this field.

1978

• Dr Richard H Battin
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For invaluable contributions to the on board navigation and guidance for the Apollo missions.

1977

• Mr. Joseph R Chambers
  Chambers Consulting Group LLC

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For developing the technology to predict high angle of attack, stall and spin characteristics for aircraft and for improving those characteristics through combined aerodynamic and automatic control design.
• Mr. William P Gilbert
  NASA-Langley Research Center

  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For developing the technology to predict high angle of attack, stall and spin characteristics for aircraft and for improving those characteristics through combined aerodynamic and automatic control design.

1976

• Dr Charles H Murphy
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For original non-linear theoretical analyses of missile flight dynamics

1975

• Prof Bernard Etkin
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contribution to the science, the practice, and the teaching of aircraft and missile stability and control

1974

• Mr. Harold R Vaughn
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For fundamental contributions to the understanding of the flight mechanics of reentry vehicles, rockets, bombs and shells, together with innovations in their aerodynamic design for stability and minimum dispersion in transonic flight

1973

• Henry J Kelley
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For exceptional and continuing contributions to optimal control theory and its applications and techniques in trajectory optimization

1972

• John V Breakwell
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For fundamental contributions in mathematical methods and physical insight in the areas of optimum control, stochastic optimization and guidance, and optimization for orbital transfer, and for his pioneering work in celestial mechanics which was instrumental in the success of early satellite tracking programs.

1971

• George W Cherry
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering the development of the digital control system for space vehicles and the application of these techniques to the Apollo Command and Service Modules and the Lunar Modules
• Dr Kenneth J Cox
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering the development of the digital control system for space vehicles and the application of these techniques to the Apollo Command and Service Modules and the Lunar Modules.
• Dr William S Widnall
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering the development of the digital control system for space vehicles and the application of these techniques to the Apollo Command and Service Modules and the Lunar Modules

1970

• Mr. Irving L Ashkenas
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding joint accomplishments in the conception, development and application of an analytical theory of aircraft handling qualities
• Mr. Duane T McRuer
  Awarded-CoRecipients

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding joint accomplishments in the conception, development and application of an analytical theory of aircraft handling qualities.

1969

• John P Mayer
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership in pioneering the design and development of trajectories which contributed decisively to the success of all United States manned spaceflights, including Apollo 8, the first manned lunar orbit mission.

1968

• Robert V Knox
  Micromagnetics

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding accomplishments in design and system integration of the Minuteman guidance and control systems

1967

• Derek F Lawden
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneer work and outstanding contributions to the field of space flight trajectory optimization.