Propellants & Combustion Award Open for Nominations 10 February 2025 – 1 June 2025

Award Recipients

2024

• Dr Jeffrey M Cohen
  RTRC

  Awarded

  Award: 2024 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to sprays, combustion control, and gas turbine combustion.

2023

• Dr Suresh Menon
  Georgia Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  Award: 2023 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished and pioneering contributions to the field of multi-scale computational modeling and simulation of turbulent and multiphase combustion in power and propulsion systems.

2022

• Prof Tim C Lieuwen
  Georgia Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  Award: 2022 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award

  AIAA Citation: “For outstanding leadership in research and development of high-performance, fuel-flexible power and propulsion combustion technologies.”

2021

• Prof Yiguang Ju
  Princeton University

  Awarded

  Award: 2021 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award

  AIAA Citation: Outstanding contributions in studies of near-limit combustion, plasma assisted combustion, micro combustion, and cool flames

2020

• Meredith B Colket III
  UTRC (RETIRED)

  Awarded

  Award: 2020 AIAA Propellants & Combustion Award.

  AIAA Citation: “For pioneering contributions in the development of endothermic fuels leading to demonstration of the X-51 and coordinating technology programs supporting certification of alternative jet fuels.”

2018

• Prof Hai Wang
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  Award: 2018 Propellants and Combustion Award

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of homogeneous and heterogeneous combustion kinetics.

2017

• Dr Ken N C Bray
  University of Cambridge

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his pioneering contributions to fundamental understanding of mixing, combustion and gas dynamics for high speed propulsion and his teaching, research and enriched international collaborations.

2016

• Prof Ahmed F Ghoniem
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering research and practical contributions to propulsion and power systems in computational fluid dynamics and its application to turbulent combustion and combustion dynamics.

2015

• Dr Mitchell Smooke
  Yale University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For fundamental and substantive contributions to combustion and propellant science and the advancement of numerical combustion.

2014

• Prof Frederick L Dryer
  Princeton University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a distinguished record of technical contributions to combustion kinetics, surrogate fuel models, droplet combustion, flow reactors, and fire safety.

2013

• James F Driscoll
  University of Michigan

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For a distinguished record of technical contributions to combustion science and a sustained record of service and leadership in the propulsion and combustion community.

2012

• Prof Stephen B Pope
  Cornell University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For original and substantive contributions to the modeling of turbulent reactive flows, in particular for the development of probability density function methods

2011

• Prof Richard A Yetter
  The Pennsylvania State University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For extensive and fundamental contributions to the advancement of combustion science and technology for aerospace propulsion and energies.

2010

• Prof David G Lilley
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding pioneering contributions in the understanding of complex swirl flows with combustion for propulsion applications, and for enduring dedication as an educator, researcher, and consultant.

2009

• Dr Vigor Yang
  Georgia Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the study of unsteady combustion in chemical propulsion systems including solid-and liquid-propellant rockets, hybrid rockets, ramjet/scramjet engines, gas-turbine engines, pulse detonation engines, and solid- and liquid-propellant guns.

2008

• Dr Elaine S Oran
  University of Maryland

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding career-spanning contributions to the development of numerical techniques and its application to elucidate a variety of problems in combustion science.

2006

• Prof Herman Krier
  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the study of propellants, energetic materials, solid- and liquid-fuel rockets, shock hydrodynamics, viscous gas dynamics and plasma dynamics.

2005

• Prof Ronald K Hanson
  Stanford University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to the development of quantitative laser-based combustion diagnostics and applications of these diagnostics to advanced propulsion research and shock tube measurements of combustion chemical kinetics.

2004

• Prof Forman A Williams
  University of California San Diego

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For immense contributions to the foundation of combustion theory

2002

• Dr John D Buckmaster
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding theoretical contributions to the physical understanding of fluid mechanics in combustion processes ranging from detonation physics to propellants

2001

• James E Peters
  Univ of Illinois at UrbanaChampaig

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his exceptional contribution as a Teacher, Mentor, Researcher in gas turbine and internal combustion engine, and service to AIAA, ASME Combustion Institute, and ILASS

2000

• Prof Dilip R Ballal
  University of Dayton

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding fundamental contributions to combustion science and jet fuel technology relevant to gas turbine engines

1999

• Prof Ashwani K Gupta
  University of Maryland

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in combustion technology, waste destruction, pollution control, and advanced methods of energy conversion that have resulted in significant reduction of fuel consumption and pollutant emission.

1998

• Prof Irvin Glassman
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: As a researcher, author, and editor whose research and educational skills established a school of combustion and propulsion that inspired generations of engineers and academicians

1997

• Dr Hukam C Mongia
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For individual contribution and providing leadership in design and development of numerous low-emission, high-performance demonstrator and product gas-turbine combustors

1996

• Dr Ben T Zinn
  Georgia Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to understanding of rocket instabilities and pulse combustion development and being among the first to realize its full potential in industrial processes

1995

• Prof Kenneth K. Kuo
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in theoretical and experimental research of solid-propellant combustion processes and active leadership promoting combustion science

1994

• Dr Chung K Law
  Princeton University

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For technical contributions in the field of spray combustion, propellant formulation and combustion chemistry, and for devotion as an educator and mentor to the academic world

1993

• Dr Gerard M Faeth
  University of Michigan

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding achievements as an educator and researcher in the areas of propellants and combustion, especially in their applications to rockets and aircraft engines

1992

• Prof William A Sirignano
  University of California, Irvine

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering and outstanding contributions in the areas of combustion instability, spray vaporization and combustion, flame spreading, and modeling of internal combustion engines

1991

• Prof Frank E Marble
  California Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For significant contributions to a wide variety of combustion problems associated with aerospace propulsion systems

1990

• Prof Arthur H Lefebvre
  Low Furrow

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions as professor, teacher, researcher and industry consultant in the area of gas turbine combustor design and development