Tag: Clay Mowry

AIAA Statement on Confirmation of the Honorable Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) CEO Clay Mowry made the following statement:

“On behalf of the Institute’s nearly 30,000 professional members and nearly 100 corporate members, I would like to congratulate Pete Hegseth on his confirmation as the Secretary of Defense. As the world’s largest aerospace professional society, AIAA is committed to advancing the technologies and innovations that support our warfighters and ensure the security of the United States and its allies. AIAA looks forward to working with Secretary Hegseth and his team to support policies and initiatives that foster innovation, enhance readiness, and maintain the U.S. military’s technological superiority.”

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 aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-27 Mission

October 24, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate Blue Origin on its successful NS-27 mission, debuting its second human-rated vehicle. We eagerly anticipate learning more about the results from the multiple payloads onboard.

New Shepard missions embody the promises of space for the benefit of Earth. Reusability is the future of launch. Sustainable space vehicles like New Shepard continue helping decrease the cost of access to space as we see the space economy growing.

We applaud AIAA Corporate Member Blue Origin for shaping the future of aerospace.”

AIAA 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. Visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Video

New Shepard Mission NS-27 (Launch at 10:53 mark)
(Blue Origin; YouTube)

Boston Logan International Airport Wins Prestigious 2025 Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 6, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) as the winner of the 2025 Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award for designing new low-noise flight procedures to actively reduce aviation noise impacts around the airport while also providing a reduction in fuel burn.

The Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award honors an individual or individuals judged to have contributed most significantly in recent years to the enhancement of relationships between airports and/or heliports and other surrounding environments via exemplary innovation that might be replicated elsewhere. The award is cosponsored by AIAA, the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and the Airport Consultants Council (ACC).

“The Award Committee is pleased to recognize the excellent collaborative work by MIT and Massport to reduce aircraft noise for residents under Boston Logan International Airport approach paths while simultaneously reducing fuel burn and distance traveled,” said R. Dixon “Dirk” Speas Jr., brother of Jay Hollingsworth Speas in whose memory the award was established 40 years ago by their father, R. Dixon Speas. “It is our hope that other airports and communities will benefit from the methodologies utilized.”

The following representatives from the collaborating organizations will accept the award during the awards luncheon on 13 March at the 2025 AAAE/ACC Airport Planning, Design, and Construction Symposium in San Antonio, Texas:

R. John Hansman, T. Wilson Professor of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Flavio Leo, Director of Aviation Planning and Strategy, Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
Jacqueline Huynh, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Irvine
Sandro Salgueiro, Airspace Integration Engineer, SkyGrid

Over the last decade, improvements to aircraft navigation technology have allowed departing and arriving aircraft to follow highly precise routes in the sky. These new routes, known as Area Navigation (RNAV) flight procedures, were implemented at BOS between 2012 and 2013 and have allowed aircraft to navigate more efficiently and predictably in the airspace around Boston. However, this shift to more precise navigation has had the side effect of concentrating aircraft trajectories over specific neighborhoods, leading to a perceived increase in aviation noise for affected communities. After the implementation of RNAV procedures, the number of noise complaints received annually by the airport increased, with complaint locations correlating strongly with RNAV tracks.

In response, in 2016, a three-way collaboration was started between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Massport, and MIT to identify potential modifications to the then-current departure and arrival procedures at BOS that could mitigate the impacts of high flight track concentrations. In collaboration with Massport and the FAA, Professor John Hansman and graduate students at the MIT International Center for Air Transportation (ICAT) led outreach to communities and technical development of potential procedure modifications. Over a period of six years, ICAT investigated several technical solutions for mitigating aircraft noise.

Following extensive collaboration with community groups and operational stakeholders, four new low-noise flight procedures were submitted to the FAA for implementation. Now deployed operationally, these procedures are actively reducing aviation noise impacts around BOS while also providing a reduction in fuel burn.

About AAAE
Founded in 1928, AAAE is the world’s largest professional organization representing the individuals who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE’s 10,000 members represent over 960 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program. aaae.org

About ACC
The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) is the global trade association that represents private businesses involved in the development and operation of airports and their related facilities. Part of ACC’s mission is to inform its members of new trends while promoting fair competition and procurement practices that protect the industry’s bottom line. acconline.org

Media Contacts

AAAE
Molly Balkam, Manager, Marketing
[email protected]
703.797.2539 | 301.787.1605

ACC
T. J. Schulz, President
[email protected]
703-344-6792

AIAA
Rebecca Gray, Director, Communications
[email protected]
804-397-5270 cell

AIAA Expands International Reach with New Section, Student Branches

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce it has chartered a new section in the United Kingdom (UK) and new student branches in seven countries. The AIAA Council of Directors approved the moves at its meeting during the 2025 AIAA SciTech Forum in Orlando, Florida.

The UK Section is located in AIAA Region VII and includes AIAA members living in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The addition of the UK Section brings the global total of AIAA sections to 58, in seven regions. Sections are led by AIAA members who volunteer to organize and offer technical programs, networking, educational opportunities, and other activities tailored to local aerospace professionals, students, and educators.

The seven new student branches have been granted three-year provisional charters to ensure they are sustainable before being officially chartered as a student branch. The universities include:

Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia
King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, India
Military Institute of Science and Technology, Bangladesh
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, United States
TED University, Turkey
University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg

“We are thrilled to welcome the UK Section and new student branches to AIAA. We are building bridges across the globe to strengthen our connections everywhere, growing international contributions to the AIAA community. We look forward to seeing how they shape the future of aerospace,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry.

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 aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA Names Clay Mowry as Chief Executive Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced today that its Board of Trustees has selected Clay Mowry as the Institute’s new chief executive officer (CEO). Mowry is a globally recognized space industry executive with experience across the international aerospace community. He will join the Institute effective 1 October 2024. Mowry succeeds Dan Dumbacher, who will leave the Institute on 30 September 2024.

Mowry is an executive with a proven track record leading space companies and industry associations. He is tasked with delivering membership growth and transforming services for AIAA’s 30,000 members. Mowry will focus on engaging students and young professionals, expanding AIAA’s international reach, and reimagining Institute services delivered across the career arc for aerospace engineers, scientists, educators, civil servants, and executives.

Mowry’s career has spanned the commercial launch and satellite sectors as a senior executive for leading space companies. Mowry also currently serves as president of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the world’s largest space nonprofit comprising 513 member organizations from 77 countries. He will continue in this volunteer role through October 2025. Mowry recently served as an advisor to space habitation technology company Vast, as chief revenue officer at Voyager Space, and as head of global sales at Blue Origin. For 15 years, Mowry served as president and chairman of Arianespace, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a leading global launch services company. In the 1990s, Mowry helped establish the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and served as its founding executive director.

Mowry is the founder and chairman emeritus of the Future Space Leaders Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the career development of young space and satellite industry professionals. He received his master’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in politics and government from Ohio Wesleyan University. Mowry is a lifetime AIAA member and was elected as an AIAA Fellow in February 2024.

“On behalf of the AIAA Board of Trustees, we are thrilled to welcome Clay into this pivotal role as CEO at the Institute. As a proven, dynamic, and innovative leader, he brings a depth of operational experience as well as a global perspective that will propel the aerospace community’s premier Institute into the future,” said AIAA President Dan Hastings.

“Clay is an aerospace visionary, with a distinguished track record of driving organizations to achieve incredible goals,” Hastings continued. “We are confident he will advance the Institute’s influence and impact on the issues and challenges confronting our community. We welcome his unparalleled passion for building the next generation of international aerospace explorers and leaders.”

Mowry stated, “I am thrilled to join AIAA at this exciting time for the aerospace community as we push the boundaries of air and space. AIAA has tremendous potential energy. Today’s Institute is propelled by decades of remarkable advances in aeronautics and astronautics produced by our members. Modern aviation capabilities and space exploration missions are possible due to AIAA members’ purpose-driven pursuits. My task is to harness and unleash our members’ collective energy, to engage the current and next generations of aerospace professionals, and to better serve them throughout their careers.”

Mowry continued, “It’s a privilege to help shape the future of aerospace, leading the Institute and empowering members to achieve the next breakthroughs that will enable us to fly farther, faster, smarter, and safer in the Earth’s atmosphere and beyond the Kármán Line. I look forward to all we’ll do together.”

AIAA 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 aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-28 Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 22, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate Blue Origin on its successful NS-28 mission. The New Shepard program embodies the promises of space for the benefit of Earth. Reusability is the future of launch. With its emphasis on reusability and sustainability, Blue Origin is leading the charge in reducing the cost of access to space while enabling the growth of a vibrant space economy.

Congratulations to the NS-28 crew – Emily, Sharon, Marc, Austin, J.D., and Hank – on their remarkable journey beyond the Kármán line today. It’s exciting to witness Marc’s and Sharon’s second spaceflight and see how Sharon is impacting the next generation of explorers through her work with SpaceKids Global.

We’re especially proud to celebrate Emily Calandrelli, also known as The Space Gal, on her transformative experience onboard New Shepard. Emily’s leadership as a Space4All Champion, inspiring young women and girls to explore STEM fields, has reached new heights as she becomes the 100^th women to go to space. Her flight serves as a testament to the growing accessibility of space exploration and will undoubtedly inspire countless individuals to see themselves in space careers.

AIAA proudly supports the Space4Allnational space STEM awareness initiative, which is committed to promoting the vast benefits and limitless opportunities associated with space exploration and development for students and jobseekers everywhere who may otherwise believe that a future in space and STEM is unattainable for them. Through education, advocacy, and outreach, Space4All seeks to unlock opportunities for students, educators, and job seekers to contribute to humanity’s space-faring future. In its first year, Space4All has already reached more than 12 million people.

We applaud AIAA Corporate Member Blue Origin for shaping the future of aerospace.”

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

AIAA Statement on Confirmation of the Honorable Sean Duffy as Secretary of Transportation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) CEO Clay Mowry made the following statement:

“On behalf of the Institute’s nearly 30,000 professional members and nearly 100 corporate members, I would like to congratulate Sean Duffy on his confirmation as the Secretary of Transportation. As the world’s largest aerospace professional society, AIAA is committed to advancing the aerospace industry, including aviation, space transportation, and emerging technologies such as advanced air mobility. AIAA looks forward to working with Secretary Duffy and his team to ensure that our nation remains at the forefront of transportation innovation, safety, and sustainability.”

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

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-29 Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 4, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate Blue Origin on its successful NS-29 mission. The rocket included 30 payloads that experienced two minutes of lunar gravity forces. We look forward to learning the results of these experiments to help us prepare for more activities on the lunar surface in the future.”

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

Video

New Shepard Mission NS-29 Webcast
(Blue Origin; YouTube)

AIAA Statement on Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Demonstrator Flight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) CEO Clay Mowry made the following statement:

“Wow! Congratulations to Boom Supersonic on breaking the sound barrier with XB-1! On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we applaud the entire team on this engineering feat pushing the boundaries of flight. We salute all the industry professionals who are involved in the XB-1 program – you are shaping the future of aerospace.”

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

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin New Glenn Test Flight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“Congratulations to the Blue Origin team! Today’s New Glenn test flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station marks a pivotal moment in heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle development. The team has made tremendous technical progress reaching orbit on this first attempt. They will learn a lot from today’s test flight and will be able to apply the lessons learned from the engineering data gathered to advance the development of the New Glenn system.

It’s the most exciting time in aerospace in my 30-year career. We’re experiencing a space renaissance with new launch capabilities enabling new exciting missions. New Glenn is unmatched with its heavy-lift volume in its large payload fairing, enabling freedom of design for satellite operators, customers, and government space agencies.

This is an extraordinary moment as we witness the birth of the reusable launch industry, because reusability is the future of launch. As the newest heavy-lift rocket, New Glenn is introducing competition to the launch market, helping accelerate the growing space economy by reducing costs, expanding access to space, and helping return us to the moon and on to Mars. Through such bold steps, we’ll see a future where living and working in space becomes routine.

As a Corporate Member of AIAA, Blue Origin exemplifies the innovation driving our community forward. We commend New Glenn program leaders Jarrett Jones and Mark Featherstone and the countless industry professionals who have designed, built, and tested this new launch system, which brings us closer to a future of sustained human presence beyond Earth. You are shaping the future of aerospace.”

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

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 or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Trailblazing STEM Educator Amy Medina Jorge Completes Spaceflight on Blue Origin’s NS-32 Mission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 31, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“Congratulations to Amy Medina Jorge on her journey beyond the Kármán line! We are thrilled to see such a remarkable educator-astronaut make the journey of a lifetime as part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-32 mission. Amy is one of those teachers who literally goes above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators.

We were honored to recognize Amy in 2023 with the Trailblazing STEM Educator Award in partnership with Challenger Center. Amy stood out due to her tireless work every day to empower students in STEM – especially those who are traditionally underserved and underrepresented. She’s given her students the chance to participate in real space experiences, leading more than 60 space experiments including developing and flying biometric sensors and performing in-flight 3D printing on a parabolic zero-gravity flight.

As a middle and high school teacher at Odyssey Academy Galveston, in Galveston, Texas, Amy is also an AIAA Educator Associate Member. Teachers like Amy are invaluable – not only to their local communities but to the space community as a whole.

Amy’s lessons are launchpads for her students’ dreams, giving them every opportunity to see their potential. Certainly, her students’ dreams were onboard with her today. What an inspiration!

AIAA applauds Blue Origin on continuing to open up access to space to more people, totaling nearly 60 commercial astronauts so far. We salute the countless aerospace professionals whose expertise has brought the New Shepard fully reusable, suborbital rocket system to this point. Reusability is the future of launch.”

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. Visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.