Tag: Aerospace Award Winners

2020 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala Video

This year the coronavirus pandemic created hardships and uncertainty unlike any other event in recent memory. Due to the pandemic the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) chose to officially recognize the 2020 honorees in 2021 and cancel the 2020 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala event.

Chosen by their peers, the 2020 AIAA Fellows and Honorary Fellows and AIAA premier awards winners have played pivotal and vital roles in shaping the next phase of exploration and flight. They reflect the best of our community, one that stands together. Collectively, we seek to explore, dream, discover, and, most of all, to make a difference. These lasting achievements can only be accomplished with the support of our teams and technical and program staff, as well as our families and friends. We hope you enjoy this video that honors those who have taken up the call to improve our world and seek solutions to daunting challenges.

Aerospace teaches us how to adapt quickly in the face of adversity, adopting fresh approaches while learning from the past. Working toward the greater good is a consistent theme throughout our community. We pursue the seemingly impossible to make lasting change that inspires the world we are natural problem-solvers.

To our honorees, we applaud you for epitomizing the potential and the achievements of our community. Your diligence, ingenuity, and commitment have made all the difference. Your work inspires us to reach for more and we thank you. Congratulations on your achievements.

As Amelia Earhart said, “You haven’t seen a tree until you’ve seen its shadow from the sky.”

Aerospace expands our perspective on how we see our world. We can rest on the certainty that even during challenging times, we will move forward and what we learn today will help create a better tomorrow.

We look forward to celebrating together when we can gather in person at the 2021 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala on 19 May 2021.

Sincerely,

Dan Dumbacher
AIAA Executive Director

Basil Hassan
AIAA President

AIAA to Recognize Excellence in Aerospace Award Winners at the 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 12, 2022 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of awards to be presented during the 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum, to be held 23–27 January 2023, National Harbor, Maryland. Registration is open to attend in person or online. Journalists can request a Press Pass here.

We are proud to recognize these accomplished individuals for their influence on the aerospace profession, their outstanding merit, and their unique contributions to the art, science, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive director. “Chosen by their peers, these visionaries, technological leaders, and exemplary professionals are truly inspirational. We are grateful for their efforts working toward a better world.”

For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].

EDUCATION AWARD

2022 J. Leland Atwood Award
This award recognizes a recent outstanding educational achievement and encourages innovative improvements in aerospace education.

John Sullivan, Purdue University
For extraordinary contributions to aerospace education and research, including pioneering work on design-build-test student projects, international leadership in the development of pressure- and temperature-sensitive paints for aerodynamic measurements, and statesman-like academic leadership, and for the widespread and profound impact on his students and the broader aerospace industry.

LITERARY AWARDS

2023 AIAA Children’s Literature Award
This award is presented for an outstanding, significant, and original book in aeronautics and astronautics published within the last two years.

Clayton Anderson
Sleeping Bear Press
Letters from Space

2023 Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award
The award is presented for the best original contribution to the field of aeronautical or astronautical non-fiction literature published in the last five years dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics or astronautics on society.

Diane Vaughan, Columbia University
Dead Reckoning: Air Traffic Control, System Effects, and Risk

2023 AIAA History Manuscript Award
This award is presented for the best historical manuscript dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics and astronautics on society.

Cathleen S. Lewis
Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum
Cosmonaut: A Cultural History

2023 AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award
The award is presented for an outstanding contribution or contributions to aeronautical and astronautical literature in the relatively recent past.

“Bala” Balakumar Balachandran
University of Maryland
Applied Nonlinear Dynamics: Analytical, Computational, and Experimental Methods and Vibrations, Third Edition

SERVICE AWARD

2023 AIAA Mary W. Jackson Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award recognizes an individual or group within AIAA who has devoted time and effort and made significant contributions to the advancement of diversity and inclusion within the Institute

Eric J. Ruggiero
GE Aerospace
For leadership in bringing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront for the aerospace community through sustained efforts through professional societies.  

TECHNICAL AWARDS

2023 AIAA Aerospace Software Engineering Award
This award is presented for outstanding technical and/or management contributions to aeronautical or astronautical software engineering.

Elizabeth T. Whitaker
Georgia Tech Research Institute/Georgia Institute of Technology
For twenty-five years of expert knowledge contributions researching, teaching, and applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques primarily to DARPA, IARPA, and DOD aviation application.

2023 AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award
This award is presented to an individual for sustained, meritorious accomplishment in the arts, sciences, and technology of air breathing propulsion systems.

Feng Liu
University of California, Irvine
For the turbine-burner engine innovation and other high-impact contributions of computational methods for turbomachinery aerodynamics.

2023 AIAA Energy Systems Award
This award is presented for a significant contribution in the broad field of energy systems, specifically as related to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the production, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy.

Bengt Aake Sundén
Lund University
For significant contributions to the development of efficient innovative cooling concepts of gas turbines and aircraft engines by pushing advanced numerical and experimental techniques to the forefront.

2023 AIAA Information Systems Award
This award is to recognize outstanding technical and/or management contributions in space and aeronautics computer, sensing, and fusion aspects of information technology and science.

Jimmie G. McEver III
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
For outstanding technical and managerial contributions to complex systems, cyberspace operations, and command and control, to include exemplary outreach efforts within the aerospace community

2023 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award
This award is presented for an outstanding recent technical or scientific contribution by an individual in the mechanics, guidance, or control of flight in space or the atmosphere.

Robert H. Bishop
University of South Florida
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.

2023 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
This award is presented for outstanding technical contributions to aeronautical or astronautical combustion engineering.

Suresh Menon
Georgia Institute of Technology
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.

2023 AIAA Walter J. and Angeline H. Crichlow Trust Prize
This award is presented for a specific achievement or body of work that became significant during the immediate past 15 years.

Inderjit Chopra
University of Maryland
For seminal contributions to rotorcraft fundamental research and education; milestone design projects (human-powered, DaVinci-Aerial-Screw, Mars helicopters), and distinguished service to federal agencies, industry, and professional societies.

2023 AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or application of rocket propulsion systems.

Rodney L. Burton
CU Aerospace, L.L.C.
For distinguished enhancement of science and innovation in the field of electric space propulsion, education of scientist engineers, and entrepreneurial leadership in aerospace engineering.

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA to Recognize Excellence in Aerospace Award Winners at the 2022 AIAA SciTech Forum

December 13, 2021 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of awards to be presented during the 2022 AIAA SciTech Forum, to be held 3–7 January 2022 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego in San Diego. The Awards Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, 6 January, 1230 hrs PT to fully recognize these award winners. Visit AIAA SciTech Forum Awards for more information.

“We are proud to recognize these accomplished individuals for their influence on the aerospace profession, their outstanding merit, and their unique contributions to the art, science, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive director. “Chosen by their peers, these visionaries, technological leaders, and exemplary professionals are truly inspirational. We are grateful for their efforts working toward a better world.”

For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].

EDUCATION AWARD

2021 J. Leland Atwood Award
This award recognizes a recent outstanding educational achievement and encourages innovative improvements in aerospace education.

Saeed Farokhi, University of Kansas
For outstanding and consistent contributions to the aerospace profession especially in the areas of propulsion and high-speed aerodynamics, and a profound and long-lasting commitment to the education, mentorship, and professional development of both graduate and undergraduate aerospace engineering students.

LITERARY AWARDS

2022 Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award
The award is presented for the best original contribution to the field of aeronautical or astronautical non-fiction literature published in the last five years dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics or astronautics on society.

John M. Logsdon, Space Policy Institute, The George Washington University
Ronald Reagan and the Space Frontier

2022 AIAA Summerfield Book Award
This award is presented to the authors of the best book recently published by AIAA.

Don L. Edberg, California State Polytechnic Institute, Pomona
Willie Costa, VUONG Global
Design of Rockets and Space Launch Vehicles

SERVICE AWARD

2022 AIAA Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award recognizes an individual or group within AIAA who has devoted time and effort and made significant contributions to the advancement of diversity and inclusion within the Institute

Eric B. Holmes, NASA Headquarters
For sustained significant contributions to raise awareness on the value of diversity and inclusion in the aerospace workforce at large, an AIAA core value.

TECHNICAL AWARDS

2022 AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology Award
The award is presented for continued contributions and achievements toward the advancement of aerodynamics flow field and surface measurement techniques for research in flight and ground test applications.

Noel T. Clemens, University of Texas at Austin
For the development and application of innovative laser-based imaging techniques to bring new insight into the physics of complex turbulent flows.

2022 AIAA Aerospace Design Engineering Award
This award is presented for the conception, definition, or development of an original concept or career contributions leading to a significant advance in aircraft design or design technology by an individual or a team.

Michael Buonanno, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
For design innovation and engineering leadership in the development of X-59, the Quiet Supersonic Technology X-plane.

2022 AIAA Aerospace Guidance, Navigation and Control Award
This award recognizes individuals who have made important and substantial contributions in the field of guidance, navigation and control.

Siva S. Banda, Air Force Research Laboratory (retired)
For outstanding and sustained contributions to advancing flight control theory and its applications.

2022 AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award
This award is presented to an individual for sustained, meritorious accomplishment in the arts, sciences, and technology of air breathing propulsion systems

Srinath V. Ekkad, North Carolina State University
For significant technical contributions to the development of pioneering detailed heat transfer measurements inside gas turbines and continued leadership in the aerospace community to develop new industry-university partnerships.

2022 AIAA de Florez Award for Flight Simulation
This award is presented for an outstanding individual achievement in the application of flight simulation to aerospace training, research, and development.

Sunjoo K. Advani, International Development of Technology B.V.
For his exceptional impacts on simulation science, particularly in the worldwide implementation of objective measures of the quality of flight simulation motion systems.

2022 AIAA Energy Systems Award
This award is presented for a significant contribution in the broad field of energy systems, specifically as related to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the production, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy.

George Crabtree, University of Illinois Chicago/Argonne National Laboratory
For his seminal contributions to defining the next-generation energy system and innovative technological and workforce development pathways to achieve it.

2022 AIAA Intelligent Systems Award
This award recognizes important fundamental contributions to intelligent systems technologies and applications that advance the capabilities of aerospace systems.

Ella M. Atkins, University of Michigan
For outstanding, creative, interdisciplinary solutions in the theory and deployment of intelligent autonomous aerospace vehicles over the past two decades.

2022 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award
This award is presented for an outstanding recent technical or scientific contribution by an individual in the mechanics, guidance, or control of flight in space or the atmosphere.

Mark L. Psiaki, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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.

2022 AIAA Microgravity and Space Processes Award
This award is presented for significant contributions in microgravity science, space processing, or in furthering the use of microgravity for space processing.

Carlos Fernandez-Pello, University of California, Berkeley
For decades of microgravity research in smoldering, flame spread and spacecraft fire safety and for leadership in the microgravity research community.

2022 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
This award is presented for outstanding technical contributions to aeronautical or astronautical combustion engineering.

Tim C. Lieuwen, Georgia Institute of Technology
For outstanding leadership in research and development of high-performance, fuel-flexible power and propulsion combustion technologies.

2022 AIAA Survivability Award 
This award is presented to an individual or a team to recognize outstanding achievement or contribution in design, analysis, implementation and/or education of survivability in an aerospace system.

Alex G. Kurtz, Survivability Assessment Flight, Aerospace Survivability and Safety Office, 704th Test Group, USAF (retired)
For distinguished service and contributions to the aircraft/aerospace survivability/vulnerability community and discipline.

2022 AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or application of rocket propulsion systems.

Daniel J. Dorney, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
For his leadership, sustained contributions, and outstanding dedication to the design, development, testing, and operation of propulsion systems critical to our nation’s future in space.

 

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA to Recognize Excellence in Aerospace Award Winners at the 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 5, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of awards to be presented during the 2024 AIAA SciTech Forum, to be held 8–12 January 2024, Orlando, Florida. Registration is open to attend in person. Journalists can request a Press Pass here.

“We are proud to recognize these accomplished individuals for their influence on the aerospace profession, their outstanding merit, and their unique contributions to the art, science, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher. “Chosen by their peers, these exemplary professionals are truly inspirational. We are grateful for their efforts shaping the future of aerospace.”

For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].

LITERARY AWARDS

 

2024 Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award
The award is presented for the best original contribution to the field of aeronautical or astronautical non-fiction literature published in the last five years dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics or astronautics on society.

Margaret A. Weitekamp
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Space Craze: America’s Enduring Fascination with Real and Imagined Space Flight

2024 AIAA History Manuscript Award
This award is presented for the best historical manuscript dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics and astronautics on society.

Aaron M. Bateman
George Washington University
A Space Renaissance: The Strategic Defense Initiative and the Arms Race

2024 AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award
The award is presented for an outstanding contribution or contributions to aeronautical and astronautical literature in the relatively recent past.

Ann P. Dowling
University of Cambridge
Combustion Noise

2024 AIAA Summerfield Book Award
This award is presented to the author of the best book recently published (within the last five years) by AIAA.

Jeffrey W. Hamstra
Lockheed Martin Corporation
The F-35 Lightning II: From Concept to Cockpit

SERVICE AWARD

2024 AIAA Mary W. Jackson Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award recognizes an individual or group within AIAA who has devoted time and effort and made significant contributions to the advancement of diversity and inclusion within the Institute.

Amanda Simpson
Airbus Americas (retired)
U.S. Department of Defense (retired)
For being a trailblazer in the aerospace community, a champion of diversity and inclusion in industry and government, and an inspiration to future generations.

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS


2024 AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award
This award is presented to an individual for sustained, meritorious accomplishment in the arts, sciences, and technology of air breathing propulsion systems.

Aspi R. Wadia
GE Aviation (retired)
For sustained excellence, global impact, and revolutionary research and development in gas turbine aerodynamics.

2024 AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology Award
This award is presented for continued contributions and achievements toward the advancement of advanced aerodynamics flowfield and surface measurement techniques for research in flight and ground test applications.

Paul M. Danehy
NASA Langley Research Center
For the development and application of optical and laser-based measurement techniques supporting NASA’s aeronautics and space exploration missions.

2024 AIAA de Florez Award for Flight Simulation
This award is presented for an outstanding individual achievement in the application of flight simulation to aerospace training, research, and development.

Marinus Maria van Paassen
Delft University
For key contributions to the fields of human-in-the-loop vehicle simulation, real-time and distributed simulation software, and aerospace human factors.

2024 AIAA Energy Systems Award
This award is presented for a significant contribution in the broad field of energy systems, specifically as related to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the production, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy.

Chih-Jen Sung
University of Connecticut
For outstanding contributions to flame dynamics and low-temperature chemistry for developing fuel-flexible, ultra-low emission, efficient combustion energy systems using conventional and alternative fuels.

2024 AIAA Intelligent Systems Award
This award is presented to recognize important fundamental contributions to intelligent systems technologies and applications that advance the capabilities of aerospace systems.

Randal W. Beard
Brigham Young University
For his innovative contributions to the guidance and control of autonomous aircraft and to the mentoring and training of the next generation of aerospace leaders.

2024 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award
This award is presented for an outstanding recent technical or scientific contribution by an individual in the mechanics, guidance, or control of flight in space or the atmosphere.

David Mitchell
Mitchell Aerospace Research
For industry-defining research and globally recognized leadership in flying qualities, handling qualities, and PIO evaluation in both fixed wing and rotary wing vehicles.

2024 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
This award is presented for outstanding technical contributions to aeronautical or astronautical combustion engineering.

Jeffrey Cohen
RTX Corporation
For outstanding contributions to sprays, combustion control, and gas turbine combustion.

2024 AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, & Materials Award
This award is presented to an individual who has been responsible for an outstanding sustained technical or scientific contribution in aerospace structures, structural dynamics, or materials.

Carlos E. S. Cesnik
University of Michigan
For seminal contributions to research and education in structural modeling, dynamics, and health monitoring emphasizing multiphysics effects in very flexible aircraft, rotorcraft, and hypersonic vehicles.

2024 AIAA Survivability Award
This award is presented to an individual or a team to recognize outstanding achievement or contribution in design, analysis, implementation and/or education of survivability in an aerospace system.

Gary C. Wollenweber
GE Aerospace
For exceptional contributions during a longstanding career in aircraft engine thermal design that has led to improved aircraft survivability through IR signature reduction.

2024 AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or application of rocket propulsion systems.

Joseph Majdalani
Auburn University
For groundbreaking theoretical modeling and research on cyclonic rocket engines, revolutionizing the understanding of these and many other liquid, solid, and hybrid rocket engines.

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Aerospace Award Winners to be Honored at AIAA SciTech Forum 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will bestow awards to aerospace innovators who made an impact on the industry over the past year during the AIAA SciTech Forum 2026, 12–16 January, Orlando, Fla. The awards will be presented during the forum at a special Awards Recognition Ceremony. Forum registration is available now. Journalists can request press credentials to cover the forum at [email protected].

“Congratulations to this year’s award winners! These remarkable individuals are highly regarded in their field and have been chosen by their peers. Their impressive contributions are advancing aeronautics and astronautics while also inspiring the next generation of aerospace professionals,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry. “They are truly shaping the future of aerospace.”

For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].

LITERARY AWARDS

2026 AIAA Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award
The award is presented for the best original contribution to the field of aeronautical or astronautical non-fiction literature published in the last five years dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics or astronautics on society.

Sean Seyer
University of Kansas
Sovereign Skies: The Origins of American Civil Aviation Policy

2026 AIAA Elementary Children’s Literature Award
This award is presented to an outstanding, significant, and original contribution in aeronautics and astronautics literature for youth audiences.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos
The Fly Who Flew To Space

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

2026 AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology Award
This award is presented for continued contributions and achievements toward the advancement of advanced aerodynamics flowfield and surface measurement techniques for research in flight and ground test applications.

Mark P. Wernet|
NASA Glenn Research Center
For the continued advancement of LDV, PIV, Raman thermometry, and real-time BOS technology into facility-hardened techniques that provide validation data for CFD assessment.

2026 AIAA Aerospace Guidance, Navigation and Control Award
This award is presented to recognize individuals that have made important and substantial contributions in the field of guidance, navigation and control.

Kathleen Howell
Purdue University
For seminal contributions to the theory and practice of the trajectory design and operation of spacecraft in the Earth-moon system.

2026 AIAA Aerospace Power Systems Award
This award, established in 1981, is presented for a significant contribution in the broad field of aerospace power systems, specifically as related to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the generation, storage, management, and distribution of electrical energy to aerospace power systems.

Jeffrey Hojnicki
NASA Glenn Research Center (retired)
For exceptional technical contributions in spacecraft power systems analysis and for outstanding leadership in the design of photovoltaic power systems for multiple human spaceflight programs.

2026 AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award
This award is presented to an individual for sustained, meritorious accomplishment in the arts, sciences, and technology of air breathing propulsion systems.

Eric J. Ruggiero
GE Aerospace
For shaping propulsion technology starting with fundamental research in cooling features of gas turbines leading to product development of propulsion systems for advanced military platforms.

2026 AIAA Atkinson-Ball Survivability Award
This award is presented to an individual to recognize outstanding achievement or contribution in design, analysis, implementation, and/or testing of survivability in an aerospace system.

Timothy L. Williams
Boeing Defense, Space, and Security
For visionary leadership advancing multi-domain platform survivability, integrating resilient technologies across global defense systems, and shaping the next generation of aerospace engineers through mentorship & innovation.

2026 AIAA de Florez Award for Flight Simulation
This award is presented for an outstanding individual achievement in the application of flight simulation to aerospace training, research, and development.

Bruce Jackson
Adaptive Aerospace Group, Inc.
For leading standards for check-cases and model exchange of six-degree-of-freedom simulations, and for developing software frameworks for crew training, handling qualities, and vehicle subsystems development.

2026 AIAA Energy Systems Award
This award is presented for a significant contribution in the broad field of energy systems, specifically as related to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the production, storage, distribution, and conservation of energy.

 Kemal Hanjalić
Delft University of Technology
University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
For pioneering and outstanding contribution to the modelling of turbulent flows, heat, mass transfer, and its application for the advancement of energy and process technologies.

2026 AIAA Intelligent Systems Award
This award is presented to recognize important fundamental contributions to intelligent systems technologies and applications that advance the capabilities of aerospace systems.

Mary “Missy” Louise Cummings
George Mason University
For outstanding and sustained contributions to human supervision and control of intelligent autonomous aerospace vehicles.

2026 AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award
This award is presented for an outstanding recent technical or scientific contribution by an individual in the mechanics, guidance, or control of flight in space or the atmosphere.

Michael Bolender
Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RQQA
For outstanding contributions to the development of control-oriented models and flight control methods for air-breathing hypersonic vehicles, which serve as the foundation of many computational models used in research and industry.

2026 AIAA Microgravity and Space Processes Award
This award is presented for significant contributions in microgravity science, space processing, or in furthering the use of microgravity for space processing.

Steven Collicott
Purdue University
For unique leadership in research, advocacy, and education supporting spaceflight activities in ISS, commercial sub-orbital rockets, parabolic flights, drop-towers, and commercial satellites.

2026 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
This award is presented for outstanding technical contributions to aeronautical or astronautical combustion engineering.

Fokion Egolfopoulos
University of Southern California
For outstanding contributions in studies of flames, including flame theory and fundamental flame property measurements and simulations especially at engine-relevant conditions.

2026 AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or application of rocket propulsion systems.

Vladimir J. Hruby
Busek Co. Inc.
In recognition of outstanding technical contributions in the field of spacecraft electric propulsion, and foundational influence on the industry.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.