FROM THE INSTITUTE
The Institute is seeking nominations by 5 August 2026 for the following positions: AIAA President-Elect, Board of Trustees Members–At-Large, Speaker of the Council, and Council of Directors.
Tag: AIAA News
Recent Changes to AIAA Member Divisions
FROM THE INSTITUTE
At the most recent Spring Business Meeting in May 2026, the Council of Directors approved the reorganization and renaming of the Integration and Outreach Division (IOD) as the Aerospace Integrated Engagement Division (AIED).
AIAA Special Service Citations Awarded
FROM THE INSTITUTE
READ awarded 4 Special Service Citations last week at their spring business meeting.
AIAA Honorary Fellow Jameson Died in June 2026
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Antony Jameson, a Texas A&M University professor in both aerospace engineering and ocean engineering, died 11 June, at the age of 91. His innovations in computational fluid dynamics form the basis for aircraft that are used from commercial airlines to the military.
Marilyn J. Smith Awarded 2026 AIAA-NAE Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Rotorcraft – The New Frontier in Extraplanetary Exploration” set for 5 October
July 7, 2026, Reston, Va. — The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) are pleased to announce that Marilyn J. Smith, David S. Lewis Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, and Director of the Georgia Tech Army/Navy/NASA Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering.
Smith will present her lecture, “Rotorcraft – The New Frontier in Extraplanetary Exploration,” on Monday, 5 Oct., starting at 1 p.m. ET with the lecture, followed by a reception. This lecture will be held in conjunction with the NAE Annual Meeting at 500 Fifth St. NW, Washington, D.C. Registration for this lecture and reception are free and open to the public.
Rotorcraft are highly versatile flight vehicles for a variety of missions where the ability to hover, move omnidirectionally, and land on unprepared surfaces are a must. Innovators have postulated for several decades that rotorcraft are the optimal vehicles for cost-effective and optimal extraplanetary exploration. Rotorcraft can cover larger swaths of unexplored territory to explore various geographical features than ground vehicles, as well as identify atmospheric traits at different altitudes and locations. The Mars Ingenuity vehicle indisputably proved rotorcraft’s ability to go above and beyond in these science missions.
This lecture will explore both the advantages and limitations of rotorcraft for extraplanetary missions, including rotorcraft design for extreme environments, opportunities to leverage current autonomous uncrewed aerial systems development, and mitigation of unknown planetary characteristics that could negatively impact mission requirements. The lecture will also identify research areas where innovations can lower risk in these long-term missions.
Smith’s research encompasses computational unsteady aerodynamics and aeroelasticity for complex configurations, including rotorcraft. Smith is an AIAA Fellow, as well as Honorary Fellow of the Vertical Flight Society and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. She is a Vertical Flight Society Technical Director Emeritus, and member emeritus of the Board of Directors for the Vertical Flight Society and the Vertical Lift Consortium. In 2022, Smith presented the Vertical Flight Society Nikolsky Award Lecture honoring a lifetime achievement of research and development in Vertical Flight. She is also the recipient of the 2022 AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Award, and the 61st Royal Aeronautical Society Lanchester Memorial Lecture (2023).
AIAA, with the participation and support of the NAE, created the Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering to honor the memory of the late pioneering rocket scientist, AIAA Honorary Fellow, and NAE member Yvonne C. Brill. Brill was best known for developing a revolutionary propulsion system that remains the industry standard for geostationary satellite station-keeping. The lectureship emphasizes research or engineering issues for space travel and exploration, aerospace education of students and the public, and other aerospace issues such as ensuring a diverse and robust engineering community.
For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].
AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270
NAE Media Contact: Sabrina Steinberg, [email protected], 202.334.2622
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.
About NAE
Founded in 1964, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. The mission of the NAE is to advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering. Follow NAE on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Positioning Aviation in Multimodal Transportation at AIAA AVIATION Forum
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The growth of the Aviation in Multimodal Transportation Aerospace Integrated Engagement Committee has been exciting to watch. As the first Aeronautics Domain topic to evolve in scope and experiment with multiple engagement formats, their nonlinear approach has garnered participation from planners, platform developers, and researchers who look at aviation’s role in broader passenger pathways.
OMB Proposed Revisions to Federal Financial Assistance Rules
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a proposed rule titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.” The proposal would revise government-wide requirements for federal grants, cooperative agreements, and other forms of federal financial assistance under 2 CFR Part 200, commonly known as the Uniform Guidance. Comments on the proposed rule are due 13 July 2026, unless OMB extends the deadline. Members may review the proposed rule and submit comments through the Federal Register or Regulations.gov docket associated with the rule.
Certifying the Future: Why America Needs a More Predictable Path for Emerging Aviation Technologies
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The United States has never lacked aviation innovators. From the Wright brothers to modern commercial aviation, American aerospace leadership has been built on a remarkable combination of engineering excellence, entrepreneurial risk-taking, and public confidence in safety. Today, a new generation of technologies are poised to transform aviation once again. AAM aircraft, eVTOL and landing systems, increasingly autonomous flight technologies, and novel propulsion concepts promise new capabilities for transportation, emergency response, cargo movement, and regional connectivity.
Student Research Takes the Spotlight at the AIAA Region III Student Conference
FROM THE INSTITUTE
In April, the AIAA University of Michigan Student Branch welcomed over 150 attendees for the AIAA Region III Student Conference. Students representing 13 universities and three high schools presented 43 papers. The conference was a great opportunity for our members to come together and learn from each other, to support each another, and to bring their passion to our field.
Aerospace on America’s 250th Birthday
FROM THE INSTITUTE
In 1976, when America celebrated its 200th birthday, the Apollo program was in the rearview mirror. The Space Shuttle was on the drawing board. Reusable…