Press Releases

NASA’s Bridenstine Among Notable Speakers at AIAA’s First Fully Virtual Forum June 3, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is holding its first fully virtual forum, the 2020 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 15–19 June. “This year, more than most, the AIAA AVIATION Forum has a crucial role to play in advancing

June 1, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) mourns the loss of AIAA Honorary Fellow Arnold D. Aldrich, whose 35-year NASA career encompassed the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle missions. Aldrich passed away on 28 May 2020 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 83. Aldrich served

Updated May 30, 2023* | Originally Published June 1, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the 2020 Regional Student Conference winners. “AIAA gives students real-world experience to help start their aerospace careers,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive director. “I’m impressed by the student research topics.

May 30, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) celebrates the success of today’s history-making launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft from U.S. soil to the International Space Station. “Today’s success heralds a new era of space exploration, one that will redefine U.S. leadership in space,” said Dan Dumbacher,

Former Astronaut Sandy Magnus on 29 May; NASA’s Steve Jurczyk on 1 June May 26, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is hosting two free webinars—one moderated by former astronaut and AIAA’s own Sandy Magnus on Friday, 29 May, and another with NASA Associate Administrator Steve Jurczyk on Monday, 1

May 22, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the election of four new trustees to its Board of Trustees and new leadership for the AIAA Foundation. “AIAA is grateful for the active volunteer leaders who help guide the Institute,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive director. “AIAA board members

AIAA is grateful for John Langford’s leadership as AIAA president during his 2018–2020 term, which ended this week.

May 19, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The new president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Basil Hassan, begins his 2020–2022 term this week. Hassan is director of the Chief Research Office at Sandia National Laboratories. “We are pleased to welcome Basil Hassan as AIAA’s new president,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] May 15, 2020 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds NASA’s announcement of the Artemis Accords, a set of common principles created to govern the civil exploration and use of outer space. “The Artemis Accords will provide the framework needed to build

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] May 14, 2020 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enable the two preeminent professional aerospace societies to collaborate on future endeavors. “AIAA looks forward to collaborating with

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] May 13, 2020 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of technical excellence awards to be presented during the 2020 AIAA AVIATION Forum, which will be held online 15–19 June. The following aerospace professionals will be recognized for

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] USC, Georgia Tech, UNLV take top prizes April 24, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) today announced the winners of the 24th annual AIAA/Textron Aviation/Raytheon Missile Systems Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition. Originally scheduled for 16–19 April in Wichita, Kansas, the Design/Build/Fly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] April 2, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s leading professional society dedicated to the advancement of the entire aerospace community, announced today that all of its events moving forward will offer attendees and industry partners the added benefit of

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] March 27, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds the passage of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act designed to help support workers, small businesses, and industries impacted by the pandemic. AIAA is grateful for the

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Honored for Efforts to Promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education March 25, 2020 – Reston, Va. – Three K–12 educators from across the United States have won the 2020 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Educator Achievement Awards, honoring their efforts to promote science, technology, engineering,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Top Technology Students Also Awarded AIAA Membership March 6, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates the 2020 winners of Aviation Week Network’s “Tomorrow’s Technology Leaders: The 20 Twenties.” The students will be honored 12 March at the Aviation Week Network’s

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] March 3, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced today the results of its 2020 election for the Council of Directors. The directors represent AIAA members in the Technical Activities Division (TAD), the Integration and Outreach Activities Division (IOD), and the

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Inaugural Event Held 16–18 November in Las Vegas, Nev. February 26, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce that NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, Lockheed Martin Corp. CEO Marillyn Hewson, and Venture Capitalist Steve Jurvetson have joined the notable roster

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] February 14, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates the Louisville Regional Airport Authority as the 2020 winner of the Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award for their area safety program. The Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) won the award “for seeking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] February 13, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates AIAA Fellow Darryll J. Pines on becoming the next president of the University of Maryland. Pines has been the dean of the university’s Clark School of Engineering at College Park since January

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] February 12, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates the newly elected members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering (NAE), nine of whom are AIAA members or award winners. “These newly elected NAE members are already well known to AIAA for

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] February 10, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) mourns the passing of Jerry Grey, an AIAA Honorary Fellow and founding publisher of Aerospace America, the Institute’s flagship publication. Grey died on 4 February 2020 from complications of pneumonia at age 93.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] February 6, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Sustained Service Awards. “AIAA’s volunteers are the aerospace community’s greatest resource,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive director. “They lead by example, using their talent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Three Honorary Fellows and 29 Fellows Selected February 3, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected its Class of 2020 AIAA Fellows and Honorary Fellows. The induction ceremony for the new Fellows and Honorary Fellows will take place on 19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Black-Tie Event Honors Aerospace’s Best and Brightest February 3, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has announced the 2020 recipients of its most prestigious awards. Presentation of these premier awards and recognition of the Institute’s newly elected Fellows and Honorary Fellows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] January 24, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the election of two new division chiefs. Daniel T. Jensen, Rolls-Royce Corporation, was elected by the regional directors to become chief of the Regional Engagement Activities Division (READ). Jeffrey W.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] January 23, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the 2020 International Student Conference winners. AIAA, in partnership with Lockheed Martin Corporation, sponsors the International Student Conference at AIAA SciTech Forum each year for student members at both

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] January 9, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Blue Origin have partnered to create Design/Build/Launch (DBL), a new competition designed to launch experimental payloads to study the effects of short-duration microgravity. AIAA and Blue Origin invite high school students to

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] December 30, 2019 – Reston, Va. – Along with the rest of the aerospace community, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) wishes a speedy recovery to the more than a dozen workers injured on 27 December when a nitrogen line ruptured at the Beechcraft aircraft manufacturing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] AIAA Executive Director Applauds the Renewed Focus on National Security Space December 20, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds the passage of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Among other things, the $738 billion policy bill establishes a U.S. Space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Executive Director Praises Funding Levels for Aerospace Programs and Reauthorization of the EXIM Bank, Calls on Congress to Return to Regular Order December 20, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds the passage of the $1.4 trillion appropriations package for Fiscal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] December 17, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has announced the winners of the AIAA Region VII Student Paper Conference, which was held in Australia this month. “For many undergraduates, an AIAA student conference is the first time they’ve had their research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] December 11, 2019 – Reston, Va. – Three high school students from the Seattle area will experience what most people only dream of—to have their experiment launched into space Wednesday at 12:55 p.m. EST as part of the Blue Origin New Shepherd payload. The American Institute of Aeronautics and

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] December 11, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has issued a Call for Content for ASCEND, a new outcomes-focused, transdisciplinary conference dedicated to the space economy. ASCEND, happening 16–18 November 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada, will focus on three macro themes:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] December 5, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the following lectures will be presented during the AIAA SciTech Forum, held 6–10 January 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, Florida. “The hallmark of the AIAA SciTech Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brian Talbot 703.980.4132 [email protected] Recent Graduates, Student from Georgia Tech and Purdue University September 18, 2020 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the winners of the Zarem Graduate Student Awards for Distinguished Achievement. Nathan Crane, who graduated in 2020 with his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] October 31, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) mourns the passing of AIAA Honorary Fellow and past AIAA President Donald W. Richardson on 24 October 2019. Born on 17 March 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, Richardson fell in love with flying

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Melissa Power, Interprose Public Relations 401.454.1314 [email protected] IAC, Washington, D.C., 22 October 2019—ASCEND (“Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery”) officially launched today. Powered by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the 16–18 November 2020 event in Las Vegas is designed to be the world’s first outcomes-focused, transdisciplinary conference designed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald; 703.264.7542 [email protected] October 1, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce its Class of 2020 Associate Fellows. AIAA will formally honor and induct the class at its AIAA Associate Fellows Induction Ceremony on Monday, 6 January 2020, at the Hyatt

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 19, 2019 – Reston, Va. – To encourage entrepreneurial activity and promote space commerce, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is hosting the Techstars Startup Weekend D.C., Space, 22–24 October. The event is co-located with the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2019), held from 21–25 October at the Walter

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 17, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of its 2018–2019 Design Competitions. “AIAA’s Design Competitions are more than winning a prize—they help students solve real-life problems and prepare them to make a difference in the aerospace

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 10, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation has announced the 12 winners of its 2019 undergraduate scholarships. Through its Foundation and supported by nearly 30,000 members, AIAA awards academic scholarships and STEM educational grants to support the next generation of aerospace professionals.

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 9, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation has announced the ten winners of its 2019 graduate awards. Through its Foundation and supported by nearly 30,000 members, AIAA awards academic scholarships and STEM education awards to support the next generation of aerospace professionals.

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] “Communications Satellites — Then, Now, and Where Next?” September 6, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected Eddy W. Hartenstein to give its 2019 David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce. Hartenstein will deliver his lecture, ““Communications Satellites —  Then, Now, and Where

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Air Force Gen. John Raymond to Lead New Combatant Command August 29, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds the establishment of the U.S. Space Command. The new combatant command prioritizes the protection of our assets and sustains our advantages in space. AIAA Executive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] August 2, 2019 – Reston, Va. –Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Emeritus of Aeronautics and Astronautics Jack L. Kerrebrock, 91, died on July 19. Kerrebrock was known internationally as an expert in the development of propulsion systems for aircraft and spacecraft and served in numerous roles in

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] AIAA Hails End to Arbitrary Budget Caps and Calls on Congress to Pass FY2020 Appropriations August 1, 2019 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds the bipartisan vote in Congress to fund the government over Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. AIAA Executive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] July 29, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has announced its 2018–2019 Section Awards winners. The Section Awards honor particularly notable achievements made by member sections in a range of activities that help fulfill the Institute’s mission. Section awards are given

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] AIAA President Congratulates Dr. Mark Esper July 23, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates Dr. Mark Esper on being confirmed as the 27th Secretary of Defense. AIAA President John Langford made the following statement upon Dr. Esper’s confirmation: “Secretary Esper

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] July 23, 2019 – Reston, Va. – Known as the godfather of NASA’s Mission Control, Chris Kraft’s dedication to safety and exacting standards played a crucial role in the success of the U.S. space mission. He died on July 22, two days after the 50th anniversary of the