Chris Crumbly Calhoun Community College

I first joined the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in 1986 as a student member at Auburn University, where I served in multiple leadership roles, including Branch President. In recent years, I have renewed my engagement with AIAA through the Greater Huntsville Section (GHS), serving as Education Officer and Public Policy Officer, and as National Chair of the AIAA Public Policy Committee from 2022 to 2025. Over my 38-year aerospace career, AIAA has remained a cornerstone of my professional identity.

After college, I experienced a lapse in membership that, upon reflection, provided valuable insight. As a student, I benefited from a strong sense of inclusion and community—connections that did not initially carry over into my early professional years. Reconnecting with AIAA reminded me of the Institute’s unique ability to unite members across career stages and disciplines. Strengthening this sense of connection has motivated my desire to serve as Region II Director.

AIAA’s strength lies in its integration both vertically—through branches, sections, regions, and national leadership—and laterally across committees, divisions, groups, and events. As Public Policy Chair, I advanced initiatives to strengthen coordination between state and local engagement and federal advocacy, helping to better connect and support our sections.

As Region II Director, I will work to enhance connectivity across our diverse region—spanning from West Tennessee to South Florida and from Louisiana through the Carolinas—through both in-person visits and virtual engagement. I will champion inclusivity, engagement, and collaboration to ensure every member feels connected to the broader AIAA community.

AIAA is the premier professional society for aerospace, and I would be honored to serve as your connector within it.