FROM THE INSTITUTE
The Conference and Seminar will be held 1–5 June 2026. 1–3 June will involve solicited technical paper presentations at The Royal Aeronautical Society in London, UK, followed by an advanced materials seminar on 4–5 June, hosted by The National Aerospace Library in Farnborough, UK and Heathcoat Fabrics Limited in Tiverton, UK. Presenters must submit their full papers by 4 May 2026.
Tag: AIAA News
Design/Build/Fly Competition Celebrating 30 Years, Adding Livestream
FROM THE INSTITUTE
In a few days, the skies above Wichita, Kansas, will come alive as student teams from all over the world set out to compete in the annual AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition fly-off. Their mission: design, build, and test a banner-towing bush plane, conducting charter flights for passengers and cargo to pay for the airplane and start a banner towing business.
AIAA CEO Mowry to Speak at Space Workforce Forum
The Space Workforce Forum, held 7 May 2026, is a structured, facilitated listening event organized by the Office of Space Commerce, Policy, Advocacy & International Division, as part of the Commercial Space Policy & Industry Strategy programming. This phase is intentionally accessible and inclusive, enabling broad situational understanding of workforce considerations shaping the space sector. Remote participants may observe proceedings and submit questions through a moderated Q&A channel.
Learn More (Office of Space Commerce)
Faculty Advisor Spotlight: Wout De Backer, University of South Carolina
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Wout De Backer, an Assistant Professor at the Molinaroli College of Engineering at the University of South Carolina, was one of six faculty advisors selected to receive the 2025 AIAA Faculty Advisor Award, highlighting his commitment to the development, mentorship, and growth of the AIAA University of South Carolina (USC) Student Branch.
AIAA Announces 2026 Award Recipients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced today its roster of award recipients whose transformative work over the past year stands out in an industry already known for pushing boundaries in innovation. The awards will be presented at various events during the coming months, including at ASCEND 2026 and AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026.
For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].
2026 AIAA Aeroacoustics Award
This award is presented for an outstanding technical or scientific achievement resulting from an individual’s contribution to the field of aircraft community noise reduction.
Stephen A. Rizzi
NASA Langley Research Center
For substantial contributions to understanding and reducing noise impact on communities and air vehicles in areas of perception-influenced design, advanced air mobility, and acoustic fatigue.
NASA Langley Research Center
For substantial contributions to understanding and reducing noise impact on communities and air vehicles in areas of perception-influenced design, advanced air mobility, and acoustic fatigue.
2026 AIAA Aerodynamics Award
This award is presented for meritorious achievement in the field of applied aerodynamics, recognizing notable contributions in the development, application, and evaluation of aerodynamic concepts and methods.
Walter Silva
NASA Langley Research Center
For seminal contributions to CFD-based unsteady aerodynamics, reduced-order models, visionary leadership in aeroelasticity, and internationally recognized excellence in teaching and research.
NASA Langley Research Center
For seminal contributions to CFD-based unsteady aerodynamics, reduced-order models, visionary leadership in aeroelasticity, and internationally recognized excellence in teaching and research.
2026 AIAA F.E. Newbold V/STOL Award
This award recognizes outstanding creative contributions to the advancement and realization of powered lift flight in one or more of the following areas: initiation, definition and/or management of key V/STOL programs; development of enabling technologies, including critical methodology; program engineering and design; and/or other relevant related activities or combinations thereof which have advanced the science of powered lift flight.
Mark Douglass Moore
Whisper Aero
For 40 years of technical leadership in breakthrough VTOL and STOL technologies: a pioneer of distributed electric propulsion, eVTOL, and the advanced air mobility ecosystem.
Whisper Aero
For 40 years of technical leadership in breakthrough VTOL and STOL technologies: a pioneer of distributed electric propulsion, eVTOL, and the advanced air mobility ecosystem.
To be presented: AeroTech in West Palm Beach, Fla., 2–4 June
2026 AIAA Fluid Dynamics Award
This award is presented for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the behavior of liquids and gases in motion as related to need in aeronautics and astronautics.
Brian J. Cantwell
Stanford University
For lifelong seminal advancements of fluid dynamics principles and turbulence modeling, including the development of a highly accurate Universal Velocity Profile for wall-bounded flows.
Stanford University
For lifelong seminal advancements of fluid dynamics principles and turbulence modeling, including the development of a highly accurate Universal Velocity Profile for wall-bounded flows.
2026 AIAA Ground Testing Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or effective utilization of technology, procedures, facilities, or modeling techniques for flight simulation, space simulation, propulsion testing, aerodynamic testing, or other ground testing associated with aeronautics and astronautics.
Carson D. Slabaugh
Purdue University
For pioneering experimental research and dedicated mentorship that advanced aerospace propulsion through groundbreaking ground testing, benchmark datasets, community leadership, and translation of discoveries into national capabilities for flight.
Purdue University
For pioneering experimental research and dedicated mentorship that advanced aerospace propulsion through groundbreaking ground testing, benchmark datasets, community leadership, and translation of discoveries into national capabilities for flight.
2026 AIAA Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Program Management
This award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the management of a significant aeronautical or aeronautical-related program or project.
Leonard Zentz
Navy Strategic Systems Program (retired)
Hypersonics Fellow, System Planning & Analysis
For programmatic and technical leadership of the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike effort leading to successful transition to Navy and Army prototype weapon systems.
Navy Strategic Systems Program (retired)
Hypersonics Fellow, System Planning & Analysis
For programmatic and technical leadership of the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike effort leading to successful transition to Navy and Army prototype weapon systems.
2026 AIAA Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Award
This award is presented to recognize outstanding sustained contributions and achievements in enabling technologies and/or the integration of technologies for system applications in the advancement of hypersonic flight.
Peter J. Erbland
Department of Defense, Amentum
For an unparalleled career dedicated to the advancement of hypersonic technologies and flight systems, exemplifying the greatest integrity, personability, passion, and technical excellence while elevating our professional community.
Department of Defense, Amentum
For an unparalleled career dedicated to the advancement of hypersonic technologies and flight systems, exemplifying the greatest integrity, personability, passion, and technical excellence while elevating our professional community.
To be presented: 27th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technology Conference in Naples, Italy, 7–9 July
2026 AIAA Jeffries Aerospace Medicine and Life Sciences Research Award
This award recognizes outstanding research accomplishments in aerospace medicine and space life sciences.
Robert Morrow
Sierra Space
For excellence in scientific and technical leadership toward the development of state-of-the-art plant growth facilities for spacecraft, enabling high-quality space life science research.
Sierra Space
For excellence in scientific and technical leadership toward the development of state-of-the-art plant growth facilities for spacecraft, enabling high-quality space life science research.
To be presented: 55th International Conference on Environmental Systems in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, 12–16 July 2026
2026 AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award
This award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the development and/or application of techniques of multidisciplinary design optimization in the context of aerospace engineering.
Anne Gazaix
Airbus Operations SAS
For pioneering contributions to simulation software, collaborative innovation, and the industrial adoption of MDO methodologies.
Airbus Operations SAS
For pioneering contributions to simulation software, collaborative innovation, and the industrial adoption of MDO methodologies.
2026 AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award
This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the physical properties and dynamical behavior of matter in the plasma state and lasers as related to aeronautics and astronautics.
Campbell D. Carter
Air Force Research Laboratory
In recognition of outstanding achievements in high-speed advanced laser diagnostics and development of laser-based measuring systems for combustion and fluid dynamics research.
Air Force Research Laboratory
In recognition of outstanding achievements in high-speed advanced laser diagnostics and development of laser-based measuring systems for combustion and fluid dynamics research.
2026 AIAA Space Systems Award
This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the architecture, analysis, design, and implementation of space systems.
Johns Hopkins APL Parker Solar Probe Team
For achieving the first mission into a star’s atmosphere through unprecedented autonomy, thermal protection, mission design, and spacecraft design innovations.
For achieving the first mission into a star’s atmosphere through unprecedented autonomy, thermal protection, mission design, and spacecraft design innovations.
2026 AIAA Theodor W. Knacke Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Award
This award recognizes significant contributions that advance aeronautical or aerospace systems through research, development, and application of the art and science of aerodynamic decelerator technology.
Jean Potvin
Saint Louis University
For significant contributions to aerodynamic deceleration system science, data interpretation and integration, and education.
Saint Louis University
For significant contributions to aerodynamic deceleration system science, data interpretation and integration, and education.
To be presented: AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Conference and Seminar 2026 in collaboration with the Royal Aero Society, in London, United Kingdom, 1–5 June
2026 AIAA Thermophysics Award
This award is presented for an outstanding singular or sustained technical or scientific contribution by an individual in thermophysics, specifically as related to the study and application of the properties and mechanisms involved in thermal energy transfer and the study of environmental effects on such properties and mechanisms.
Christopher O. Johnston
NASA Langley Research Center
For groundbreaking advancements in the field of shock-layer radiative heating with significant impacts to entry vehicle designs, crew safety, and planetary protection threat assessments:
NASA Langley Research Center
For groundbreaking advancements in the field of shock-layer radiative heating with significant impacts to entry vehicle designs, crew safety, and planetary protection threat assessments:
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.
Ohio Symposium Celebrates Over Half a Century and Looks Toward the Future of Aerospace
FROM THE INSTITUTE
On 10 March, the AIAA Dayton-Cincinnati Section held the Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Sciences Symposium (DCASS). Christopher Ruscher and Joseph Miller (the executive chair and co-chair of the symposium) told the audience, “Today, we hope you attend the diverse technical presentations submitted by our region’s aerospace professionals, students, and academics, highlighting scientific research and engineering innovations, get a chance to catch up with some old colleagues and meet new collaborators, and help promote STEM in the region.”
Fast and Furious: Aerospace Firms Reduce Hypersonic Design to Months, Not Years
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Used to be, designing hypersonic aircraft, a complex and lengthy process, presented a choice: One could choose low-fidelity and have it quickly, or high-fidelity and it would take seemingly forever. Those days may be gone if aerospace firms Specter Aerospace and nTop have their way. Now, hypersonic aircraft can be designed quickly, with high fidelity, at scale, reducing time from development requirements to validated design in days instead of weeks or months, said presenters on the HUB stage at AIAA SciTech Forum on 13 January.
Nominations Open for Member Advancement
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Do you know an AIAA member who has made outstanding contributions to the aerospace industry? Help us shine a spotlight on their stellar leadership and contributions by nominating them for member advancement, and elevate them to an elite class of AIAA members. Full nomination criteria can be found on the AIAA Honors homepage.
Faculty Advisor Spotlight: Mostafa Hassanalian, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Mostafa Hassanalian was one of six faculty advisors selected to receive the 2025 AIAA Faculty Advisor Award, highlighting his dedication to education, student mentorship, and his impact on the broader community at the local, state, and national levels. Hassanalian continues to create opportunities that support student success both inside and outside the classroom.
AIAA Anticipates Artemis II Launch with Collection of Technical Papers
As NASA counts down to the Artemis II launch, AIAA is pleased to release the most recent technical content published on the Artemis program from the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and meeting papers at AIAA SciTech Forum (2024–2026). These original research results and technological progress on Artemis have been published in AIAA’s Aerospace Research Central (ARC). The Artemis II collection is complimentary this year as we celebrate the Artemis II mission.