AIAA News

Speaker: Michael Thacker, executive vice president of technology and innovation, Bell by Ben Iannotta, Aerospace America editor-in-chief Empowering everyday commuters and other passengers to fly over urban areas will require groundbreaking research but also achieving consumer acceptance and finding the most efficient way possible to certify these aircraft for safety, said Bell’s innovation chief, Michael Thacker, June 28

Panelists: Moderator John Tylko, chief innovation officer, Aurora Flight Sciences Corp; Andrew Gibson, president, Empirical Systems Aerospace Inc.; Bruce Holmes, vice president of digital aviation, SmartSky Networks LLC; Daniel Morris; director, REaKTOR Business Technology Innovation Center, National Institute of Aerospace; Kevin Noertker, CEO, Ampaire by Tom Risen, Aerospace America staff reporter (2017-2018) A group of executives described their strategies for

Panelists: Moderator David Hills, senior partnership manager, Airbus Americas Inc.; Matej Andrejašič, head of aerodynamics, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions; Pier-Davide Ciampa, team lead, Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization, German Aerospace Center; Sebastiano Fumero, head of unit-aeronautics, Research and Innovation Directorate General, European Commission; Pablo Perez-Illana, program officer, Research and Innovation Directorate General, European Commission; Joeri De Ruytter,

Panelists: Moderator David Hills, vice president of research and technology, Airbus; Michael Huerta, senior adviser, Macquarie Holdings by Tom Risen, Aerospace America staff reporter (2017-2018) Michael Huerta, a former FAA administrator, emphasized the need for data sharing, international collaboration and public education to achieve the aviation industry’s common goal of safety June 27 during his “Aviation Transformation —

Panelists: Moderator Donald W. Richardson, chief operating officer, Donrich Research Inc.; Gregory Bowles, vice president for global innovation and policy, General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Ravi Chaudhary, director for advanced programs and innovation, FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Parimal H. Kopardekar, senior technologist, Air Transportation Systems, NASA’s Ames Research Center; Robert Pearce, acting director, Airspace

Panelists: Moderator Nicolas Borer, advanced air vehicle configurator technical lead, Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch, NASA’s Langley Research Center; Ella Atkins, professor of aerospace engineering, University of Michigan; Anna Dietrich, co-founder, Terrafugia; Stephane Fymat, vice president of product management and marketing, BendixKing, Honeywell Aerospace; Zohaib Mian, senior autonomous systems architect, Mercedes-Bosch Autonomous Driving Project, Robert Bosch

Panelists: Moderator Graham Warwick, managing editor, Aviation Week and Space Technology; Eric Branyan, vice president, F-35 Supply Chain Management, Lockheed Martin; Declan Holland, vice president of U.S. business, BAE Systems Inc.; Frank Carus, vice president and F-35 program manager, Northrop Grumman Corp.; Thomas Johns, director, F135 Weapon System Integration, Military Engines, Pratt & Whitney; John

Panelists: Moderator Juan J. Alonso, professor, Stanford University; Jeff Babione, vice president and general manager, Advanced Development Programs, Lockheed Martin by Ben Iannotta, Aerospace America editor-in-chief Lockheed Martin’s Jeff Babione challenged the audience of the “Evolution of the F-35” session June 26 at the 2018 AIAA AVIATION Forum in Atlanta to utter the first words that came to mind when

Panelists: Moderator Starr Ginn, deputy aeronautics research director, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center; Charles “Chase” Ashton, senior engineer, AeroVironment Inc.; Scott Drennan, director of innovation, Bell; Steve Ericson, director of advanced design, The Spaceship Co.; Bob Morgan, director of research and development, Scaled Composites; Michael Swanson, chief engineer, Advanced Development Programs, Lockheed Martin by  Michele McDonald,

Panelists: Moderator Juan Alonso, professor of aeronautics and astronautics, Stanford University; Rodin Lyasoff, CEO, A^3 by Airbus; Jack O’Banion, vice president of strategy and customer requirements, Advanced Development Programs, Lockheed Martin; Pradeep Fernandes, managing director of disruptive horizons, Boeing HorizonX; Ilan Kroo, Thomas V. Jones professor of engineering, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University

Panelists: Moderator Van Espahbodi, co-founder, managing partner, Starburst Aerospace Accelerator; Maryanna Saenko, principal, Khosla Ventures; Brian Schettler, managing director, Boeing HorizonX Ventures; Peter Truwit, associate, Seraph Group by Ben Iannotta, Aerospace America editor-in-chief Four venture capitalists at the 2018 AIAA AVIATION Forum in Atlanta gave a glimpse into their world — from the fiercely competitive pace of their business to

AIAA Profiles AIAA Fellow Dr. John Valasek By Michele McDonald, AIAA Communications Manager John Valasek was destined to become an aerospace engineer all thanks to the simple fact that his mother attended a Blue Angels airshow in Los Alamitos, California, when she was seven months pregnant with him in 1961. And Valasek is not one to

AIAA Profiles AIAA Associate Fellow Dr. Martiqua Post Professor, U.S. Air Force Academy Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) Program Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative, DARPA By Michele McDonald, AIAA Communications Manager When Martiqua Post earned her private pilot’s license, the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) professor also learned more about what her students experience. “I passed my FAA check

AIAA Profiles AIAA Associate Fellow Dr. Hanspeter Schaub By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor For April 2018, the Institute turns its spotlight toward the Rocky Mountains, home of the Glenn L. Murphy Endowed Chair of Aerospace Engineering Sciences (AES) at the University of Colorado, and Editor-in-Chief of the AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets (JSR), Dr. Hanspeter

AIAA Profiles AIAA Fellow Nancy Andersen By Michele McDonald, AIAA Communications Manager Some of the first steps in AIAA Fellow Nancy Andersen’s aerospace engineering career started with grade school math competitions and science projects. AIAA Fellow Nancy Andersen. “I always had a curiosity for how things worked, and I loved to build things,” said Andersen, who

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to welcome its newest corporate members. These distinguished companies join nearly 100 other organizations who—through their innovation, ingenuity, and imagination—are shaping the future of aerospace. “AIAA’s Corporate Members are vital to the Institute and to the aerospace industry’s overall success,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan

The Inlets, Nozzles, and Propulsion Systems Integration (INPSI) Technical Committee invites you to attend the 4th AIAA Propulsion Aerodynamics Workshop on July 7-8, 2018 in Cincinnati, OH.  The full 2-day workshop will take place the weekend prior to the AIAA Propulsion & Energy 2018 conference. The focus of the workshop will be on assessing the

Important Announcement: New Editor-in-Chief Sought for the Library of Flight Book Series AIAA is seeking an outstanding candidate for this position, to assume the responsibilities of Editor-in-Chief of the Library of Flight series in late spring 2018. The chosen candidate will assume the editorship at an exciting time as AIAA continues to expand its ability

AIAA Profiles AIAA Fellow Dr. Alexander J. Smits By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor For February 2018, the Institute turns its spotlight to central New Jersey, home of influential professor and internationally respected expert in mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Editor-in-Chief of the AIAA Journal, Dr. Alexander J. Smits. An AIAA Fellow, Smits is the Eugene

At the 2018 AIAA SciTech Forum, which took place 8–12 January in Kissimmee, FL, we celebrated our community’s discoveries and achievements from the small but brilliantly simple innovations that affect everyday lives to the major discoveries and missions that fuel our collective human drive to explore and accomplish amazing things. 2018 Durand Lecture for Public

Dr. Ella M. Atkins has been appointed as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Aerospace Information Systems (JAIS). Currently Dr Atkins is a Professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Michigan where she has been innovative and influential in moving a traditional aerospace engineering department in new directions. She is also the Associate

AIAA Profiles AIAA Senior Member Dr. Jay Gundlach By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor For the past two decades Dr. Jay Gundlach has been a pioneering force behind many advancements in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies, which have been growing areas of focus for the Institute over the past several years.

Panelists: Moderator Scott Fouse, vice president, Advanced Technology Center, Lockheed Martin; Gerhard Grunwald, head of orbital robotics, Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics; Kris Kearns, senior adviser for autonomy research, Air Force Research Laboratory; Stefanie Tellex, assistant professor of computer science and assistant professor of engineering, Brown University by Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor With computing

Panelists: Moderator David E. Bowles, director, NASA’s Langley Research Center; August Noevere, aerospace research engineer, Collier Research Corp. — HyperSizer Software; Adam Clark, aerodynamics engineer, Enabling Technology & Research, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Thomas Convard, technical product manager, Epic Games; Rodney Martin, deputy data sciences group lead, NASA’s Ames Research Center; Rachel Narciso, immersive technology specialist,

Panelists: Moderator Bill Casebeer, senior research area manager, Human Systems and Autonomy, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories; Julia Badger, Robonaut project manager, Autonomous Spacecraft Management Projects, NASA’s Johnson Space Center; Eileen Liu, research scientist, Human Systems and Autonomy, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories; Matthias Scheutz, director, Human-Robot Interaction Lab, Tufts University; Victoria Coleman, chief technology

Speaker: Elizabeth Baron, virtual reality and advanced visualization technology specialist, Ford Motor Co. by Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor Advancements in immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality will revolutionize and streamline many processes in the aerospace industry, said Elizabeth Baron, virtual reality and visualization specialist for the Ford Motor Co., Jan. 11 during the

Panelists: Moderator Tom Gunnarson, regulatory affairs lead, Zee Aero; Gregory J. Bowles, vice president of global innovation and policy, General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Carl Dietrich, chief technology officer and co-founder, Terrafugia; Eric Mueller, aerospace engineer, NASA’s Ames Research Center; Sasha G. Rao, chair of intellectual property practice, Maynard Cooper & Gale; Wes Ryan, unmanned systems

Panelists: Moderator Michael Patterson, aerospace technologist, NASA’s Langley Research Center; Danette Allen, senior technologist of intelligent flight systems, NASA’s Langley Research Systems; Brian J. German, Langley associate professor, Georgia Institute of Technology; Andrew R. Gibson, president, Empirical Systems Aerospace Inc.; Ken Goodrich, senior research engineer, NASA’s Langley Research Center; Stephen Rizzi, senior researcher for aeroacoustics,

Panelists: Moderator Bruce Holmes, vice president for digital aviation, SmartSky Networks LLC; Carl Dietrich, chief technology officer and co-founder, Terrafugia; Mark Moore, director of engineering, Uber Elevate; Mark Cousin, senior vice president of flight demonstrators, Airbus; Brian Yutko, vice president of research and development, Aurora Flight Sciences By Tom Risen, Aerospace America staff reporter (2017-2018) Companies

Panelists: Moderator Jenn Gustetic, program executive of small business innovation research, NASA; Jason Crusan, director, Advanced Exploration Systems Division, NASA; Dustin Fraze, program manager, Information Innovation Office, DARPA; Monsi Roman, program manager, Centennial Challenges, NASA; Chris Frangione, open innovation consultant; Zoe Szajnfarber, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering and space policy, George Washington

During a plenary session Jan. 9 at the 2018 AIAA SciTech Forum in Kissimmee, Florida, the Institute honored retired U.S. Navy Capt. John Young, who died Jan. 5 at age 87, with a moment of silence. “Capt. Young was an American hero — a true astronaut’s astronaut who had an incredible career and lived a

Panelists: Moderator Darryll J. Pines, dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland; Andreas Bernhard, chief engineer, CH-53K, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.; LaNetra Tate, program executive, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA; Jack O’Banion, vice president, Lockheed Martin; Brendan Iribe, co-founder, Oculus by Tom Risen, Aerospace America staff reporter (2017-2018) Digital innovation that changed daily life

Panelists: Moderator Joseph Morrison, associate project manager, Transformational Tools and Technologies, NASA’s Langley Research Center; Jandria Alexander, principal, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.; David Keyes, director, Extreme Computing Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology; Pamela Kobryn, principal aerospace engineer, Structures Technology Branch, Aerospace Vehicles Division, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory; Dimitri

Panelists: Moderator Joseph Morrison, associate project manager, Transformational Tools and Technologies, NASA’s Langley Research Center; Jandria Alexander, principal, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.; David Keyes, director, Extreme Computing Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology; Pamela Kobryn, principal aerospace engineer, Structures Technology Branch, Aerospace Vehicles Division, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory; Dimitri

Panelists: Moderator Pamela Kobryn, principal aerospace engineer, Structures Technology Branch, Aerospace Vehicles Division, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory; Brenchley Boden, chief technology officer, Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute, and senior industrial engineer, AFRL; Michael W. Grieves, executive director, Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design, Florida Institute of Technology; Brunon “Dave” Kepczynski,

Speaker: Naguib Attia, vice president, Global University Programs, IBM by Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor To bring to fruition the full benefits of the digital enterprise business model, a number of challenges still need to be met and there is no sector better-suited for leading this charge than aerospace, said Naguib Attia, vice president of Global

Onsite (Presentation) Judges at the AIAA SciTech Forum This year’s AIAA Foundation International Student Conference is sponsored by The Boeing Company.  Sessions will begin immediately following the Opening Plenary on Monday, 8 January 2018. Presentation judges are needed. The judges will review the students’ ability to present their paper to the audience. Students are judged on

AIAA Profiles AIAA Senior Member Dr. Ian Tuohy By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor For the past quarter-century Dr. Ian Tuohy has helped guide Australia’s aerospace industry. His key role in expanding AIAA in the region, notable technological contributions, and support of the next generation of aerospace engineers makes him the ideal candidate for the

AIAA Profiles AIAA Fellow Dr. Michael B. Bragg By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA web editor For November 2017, the Institute turns its spotlight on the Pacific Northwest, home of influential professor and nationally recognized expert in aerospace, Dr. Michael B. Bragg. An AIAA Fellow, and member since 1975, Bragg has held numerous AIAA volunteer leadership positions including

AIAA is seeking an outstanding candidate with an international reputation for this position to assume the responsibilities of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Aerospace Information Systems in early 2018. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the journal’s quality and reputation as well as establishing a strategic vision for the journal. He or she

Federated and Fractionated satellite systems (FSS) are new concepts in space systems design aiming at creating a commercial cloud-computing environment to enable sharing and trading of in-space resources between spacecraft. Federated satellites exchange resources such as link capacity, processing capability and storage capacity. This exchange improves the efficiency utilization of spacecraft resources and makes use

On 26 September, AIAA joined the Aerospace Industries Association to sponsor a congressional briefing highlighting the importance of sufficient and sustained aerospace R&D investments. Approximately 80 congressional staff members attended the briefing that addressed important questions, such as how our national and economic security are threatened when investments in aerospace R&D are insufficient, and what

Institute Welcomes 2017–2018 Norris Space View Interns JT Lewis and Adam Boro By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor JT Lewis, Prince Frederick, MD This month we turn the spotlight on the AIAA Alexander “Al” Norris Space View Internship program’s 2017–2018 interns: John (JT) Lewis, of Prince Frederick, MD, and Adam Boro, of East Brunswick, NJ, both of whom

About the Alexander R. Norris Space View Internship Laurie and Alexander Norris Alexander “Al” Norris was an aerospace engineer whose 37-year career—like many AIAA members of his generation— spanned the ups and downs that came with the extraordinary evolution and growth of the aerospace industry in the 20th century. Born in 1914, Norris grew up

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: JOHN BLACKSTEN 703.264.7532 [email protected] AIAA President Calls for a Long-Term Authorization for the Agency October 1, 2017 – Reston, Va. – As the world’s largest aerospace technical society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) urges lawmakers to come to a consensus and pass a long-term FAA authorization bill. “We are

AIAA Profiles Dr. John Daily, AIAA Fellow and Chair of the AIAA Publications Committee By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor With school back in session, the Institute has chosen a befitting and well-deserved member to spotlight for September 2017: Dr. John Daily. His exciting career path has led him from race car mechanic, to propulsion system

Social media use at AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia, was strong compared to previous years. At the 2016 forum in Salt Lake, attendees posted 288 tweets that appeared on social media display screens set up throughout the conference. At this year’s forum, moderators approved 535 tweets to display to the boards.

By Hannah Godofsky, AIAA Communications From 12 to 14 July, a symposium was held at Hampton Roads Convention Center as part of the celebration of NASA Langley Research Center’s 100 years of technical excellence. Tom Irvine, managing director of Content Development at AIAA (pictured left), moderated a panel titled, “Aeronautics Research Partnerships: Celebrating the First

AIAA Profiles AIAA Senior Member Melissa B. Rivers By Lawrence Garrett, AIAA Web Editor With NASA Langley Research Center having celebrated its 100th anniversary in July, the Institute thought it appropriate and timely to select Melissa B. Rivers, a longtime staff member at the center and one of its key contributors, as its July-August 2017 AIAA

Panelists: Moderator Julie Van Kleeck, vice president of advanced space and launch programs and strategy, Aerojet Rocketdyne; Darby Cooper, senior manager for integrated analysis, Space Launch System, Exploration Launch Systems, Boeing; Steve Jolly, chief engineer for commercial civil space, Lockheed Martin; Jerrol Littles, director of advanced launch vehicle propulsion, Aerojet Rocketdyne; David H. Manzella, solar-electric