Tag: Forum

2023 AIAA DEFENSE Forum to Focus on Winning the Strategic Competition

March 28, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has announced its three-day program for the 2023 AIAA DEFENSE Forum, 11–13 April at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland. This year’s program will explore the critical role of the science and technology community in providing innovative and operationally relevant capabilities to win the strategic competition. This Secret/NOFORN event provides the ideal venue for leaders from government, military, industry, and academia to advance and accelerate innovation. Registration for the 2023 AIAA DEFENSE Forum is open for the national security community.

“We are pleased to welcome the science and technology community to the 2023 AIAA DEFENSE Forum. We believe it’s more important than ever for this community to gather for discussion and debate on the most pressing strategic, programmatic, and technical topics and national security policy issues. The intimate classified discussions and cross-pollination among sectors are crucial to developing and fielding solutions for the warfighter,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher.

The speakers and panelists participating in the 2023 AIAA DEFENSE Forum are proven leaders and innovators within the industry. Confirmed speakers include:

Thomas Browning, Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Mission Capabilities, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
Timothy Bunning, Chief Technology Officer, Air Force Research Laboratory
Glenn Case, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Hermeus
Kevin Cohen, Special Advisor, U.S. European Command
CAPT Randy Cruz, USN, Assistant Chief of Naval Research
Dennis Helmich, Director, Integrated Military Systems, Sandia National Laboratories
David Honey, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
Marty Hunt, Vice President, Strategic Programs, Dynetics
Mark Lewis, Executive Director, Emerging Technologies Institute, National Defense Industrial Association
Martin Lindsey, Science and Technology Division Chief (J85), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
Christine Michienzi, Senior Technology Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
John Otto, Senior Director, Advanced Hypersonic Weapons, Raytheon Missiles and Defense
Kerri Phillips, Chief Scientist, Air and Missile Defense Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Katherine Rink, Head of the Air, Missile, and Maritime Defense Technology Division, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Robie Samanta Roy, Senior Advisor, Stratolaunch
Lisa Sanders, Director, Science and Technology for Special Operations Forces, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, U.S. Special Operations Command
Donna Cowell Senft, Chief Scientist, Air Force Global Strike Command
Thomas Wiley, Senior Director, Advanced Integrated Mission Solutions, Raytheon Missiles & Defense

The forum technical sessions will cover research topics including: Strategic Missile Systems; High-Maneuverability and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies; Autonomy, Collaborative Engagement, and Machine Intelligence; and more.

During the forum, the AIAA Missile Systems Technical Committee will present the 2023 AIAA Missile Systems Award to Mark A. Weiner, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, “For significant national contributions to the development of surface-to-air and air-to-air missile systems and countermeasures through rigorous analysis and testing of radar and seeker technologies.” AIAA is committed to ensuring that aerospace professionals are recognized and celebrated for their achievements, innovations, and discoveries that make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous.

AIAA is offering the Aerospace Survivability Course following the forum on 14 April, 0800–1700 hrs ET USA, at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland. This classified one-day course is intended to introduce the concept of survivability, including the basic concepts of susceptibility and vulnerability and how these concepts affect aerospace design. Registration is available.

For the most up-to-date program and registration information, visit aiaa.org/defense.

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

ASCEND Announces Commercial Space Policy Event, 15 November

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 14, 2021 – Reston, Va. – ASCEND, the interdisciplinary community focused on building humanity’s off-world future faster, today announced the detailed agenda for its East Coast Satellite Event on 15 November in Washington, DC, as part of the 2021 ASCEND centerpiece event. Powered by AIAA, ASCEND was launched in 2020 to Accelerate Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery.

For those living within commutable distance of Washington, DC, this limited-space, one-day, face-to-face event will feature discussions with national leaders on-site, networking during and after, and a live feed from the ASCEND Las Vegas stage. The AIAA National Capital Section will host a happy hour networking event at the conclusion of the day.

Registration is open now and includes full online access for 8–10 and 15–17 November. Journalists interested in covering the DC-based event in person should contact [email protected] for credentialing.

2021 ASCEND East Coast Satellite Event
15 November, 1030–1600 hrs ET
Lunch is included
Ronald Reagan Building – Rotunda Room, Washington, DC

Opening Ceremony (Livestreamed)

Kari Byron, Producer and Television Personality

Building Worlds That Do Not Yet Exist (Livestreamed)
Have you ever wondered if we, as the greater collective, are thinking big enough for space? Discover the futures that don’t yet exist, how incredible creators and visionaries bring their ideas into reality, and the value that such efforts can bring to drive progress. Because if we can’t dream it, we can’t get there. Let’s explore together how to imagine untapped opportunities and turn those dreams into tangible images of the future as a catalyst for accelerating growth and delivering greater value for the space enterprise!

Moderator: Ariel Ekblaw, Director, MIT Space Exploration Initiative, MIT Media Lab

Public-Private Partnerships: When One Shoe Doesn’t Fit All (Livestreamed)
Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) have been in use in the United States almost since the nation was founded and in aviation and space for decades – driving industry forward, introducing innovation, and reducing costs. At the same time, they are not a panacea and sometimes fail, leaving the government to step in to clean up the mess. NASA’s recent efforts to utilize PPPs for human spaceflight systems are modeled on success with the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program that benefitted from an existing launch market with well-established customer demand. Is this the appropriate model for PPPs under conditions of uncertain demand, in LEO or deep space? Are PPPs still a meaningful construct in those circumstances, or are the rules, incentives, and risk management approach governing the relationship more important? This session will go beyond the “PPP soundbite” to explore different models across various types of markets and incentives.

Mary Lynne Dittmar, Executive Vice President, Axiom Space (Moderator)
Dan Dumbacher, Executive Director, AIAA
Henry Hertzfeld, Research Professor of Space Policy and International Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Policy for Growing Commercial Space Opportunities (Live, in person after lunch)

Opening remarks will be given by Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Chairman, House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee.

The panel discussion that follows will sharpen our focus on how policy can be used to accelerate, enhance, and shape commercial space opportunities while balancing the array of technical, financial, legal, and programmatic factors. Topics for the dynamic discussion include: When is it appropriate for government to use commercial services? What are the benefits and risks of firm-fixed-price procurements and Other Transactional Authorities? How can government and industry work together to accelerate “hard tech” development for space? How can regulations encourage the growth of purely private space ventures while still protecting public safety and other national interests?

Tim Dominick, Chair, AIAA Public Policy (Moderator)
Mike Gold, Executive Vice President for Civil Space and External Affairs, Redwire Space
Tom Hammond, Senior Policy Advisor, House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee (Minority Staff)
Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, Assistant Director for Space Policy, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

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

About ASCEND
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future! For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Early-bird Registration for AIAA SciTech Forum Ends 16 December

AIAA News

The 2025 forum will feature approximately 3,000 technical presentations spanning 60+ topics, including aerodynamic measurement technology, applied aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, guidance, navigation, and control, hypersonics, intelligent systems, propellants and combustions, spaceflight mechanics, and more. Professionals and students can save up to 25%.

Learn More

ASCENDxTexas to Focus on Breaking Barriers and Accelerating the Space Ecosystem

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the program for its collaborative event focused on pathways for our success – ASCENDxTexas – 29–30 March, South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center, Houston, Texas. With the space ecosystem and activities increasing exponentially, this event brings together key global stakeholders in Texas who will share how they’re accelerating our progress toward a sustainable off-world future.

Registration for ASCENDxTexas is open. Journalists who wish to cover this event can request a Press Pass here.

Vanessa Wyche, Director, NASA Johnson Space Center, and member of the ASCEND Guiding Coalition, will deliver opening remarks. The event will feature a keynote address, “Sustaining the Momentum,” by Kathryn Lueders, Associate Administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate, NASA. Lueders will focus on defining the next steps to remove barriers and expand on the approaches for success. As innovation and markets evolve continuously, she will discuss how we can keep the momentum going and ensure progress for the whole space ecosystem.

The event also will feature a keynote address entitled, “Charge to Move Forward,” by Michael Gazarik, Vice President, Engineering, Ball Aerospace, and member of the ASCEND Guiding Coalition. He will discuss how we take lessons learned to move toward the future, without inhibiting our potential, and how we let go of the past that’s holding us back.

The ASCENDxTexas program features a diverse group of visionaries and leaders. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Stephen Altemus, President and CEO, Intuitive Machines
Ian Christensen, Director, Private Sector Programs, Secure World Foundation
Steve Cook, President, Dynetics
Erin Defossé, COO, Slingshot Aerospace
Dan Dumbacher, Executive Director, AIAA
Angela Hart, Manager, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program, NASA
Andy Hines, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Foresight, University of Houston
Jason Kalirai, Mission Area Executive for Civil Space, Space Exploration Sector, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Catherine Koerner, Deputy Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA
Kathy Laurini, Human Space Exploration Strategy, Dynetics
Christian Maender, Executive Vice President, In-Space Solutions, Axiom
Todd May, Senior Vice President, Science and Space, KBR
Nujoud Merancy, Strategy and Architecture Lead, NASA
Carie Mullins, Director, Analytics, BryceTech
Kirk Shireman, Vice President, Lunar Exploration Campaign, Lockheed Martin
Charles Stegemoeller, Director, NASA Business Development and Capture Management, Leidos
Dan Tani, Director, Business Development Operations, Human Exploration and Operations, Northrop Grumman
Julie Van Kleeck, Space Domain Lead and ASCEND Executive Producer, AIAA

“We are excited to return to Space City with ASCENDxTexas for a second year,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher. “This unique event gives the ASCEND community another opportunity to come together to gain insights on the latest strategies and opportunities for success in both the current global market and our future in space. We look forward to welcoming space industry leaders to learn about new players and partners, identify solutions to barriers, and see how commercialization supports future space capabilities.”

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

About ASCEND
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND, which stands for Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery, is the world’s premier collaborative, outcomes-driven, interdisciplinary community designed to accelerate the building of our off-world future. For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

2023 ASCEND Conference Call for Content Open: Inviting New Ideas to Accelerate Our Future in Space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Key themes focused on sustainability, exploration, and national security

March 2, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) today announced an educational webinar to attract new concepts, ideas, and discussion topics for its upcoming ASCEND event, 23–25 October, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future.

Authors are invited to submit abstracts and propose collaborative sessions for the expanded program focused on six key topic areas:

Space Traffic Management / Coordination
Expanding and Evolving the Space Economy
Space Exploration and Infrastructure: Exploring, Living, and Working in Space
Space Security and Protection
Space and Sustainability
Education, Outreach, and Workforce

“ASCEND is opening up space to creative thinkers across many industries,“ said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA executive director. “We are delighted to see the growing interest in commercial space, national security and exploration reach beyond aerospace into many pioneering fields, including biomedical, construction, technology, and artificial intelligence. The 2023 ASCEND event will bring thousands of diverse innovators together to share their visions for space over the next few decades with the key players who can bring those visions to life.”

The 2023 ASCEND Call for Content educational webinar is set for 2 March for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the content being sought for the 2023 program:

2023 ASCEND Call for Content Webinar
Space Exploration and Infrastructure + Expanding and Evolving the Space Economy

Watch Replay

The 2023 ASCEND Call for Content is open now through 15 March, 2000 hrs ET. More information is available online at ascend.events/call-for-content.

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

AIAA to Recognize Excellence with Awards at the 2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of technical and management excellence awards to be presented during the 2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 29 July – 2 August, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. Registration is open for the worldwide aviation community to attend. Journalists who wish to cover the forum can request a Press Pass here.

“We are proud to recognize these accomplished individuals for their influence on aviation,” said AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher. “From the major missions that reimagine how our nation uses air and space to the inventive new applications that enhance everyday living, these professionals leverage their knowledge for the benefit of society. Their efforts are making the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous.”

2024 AIAA Aircraft Design Award

Paul L. Fontenrose, Vice President Engineering, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems

Award Citation: For the design of the next evolution of the U.S. Air Force strategic bomber fleet and the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft to reach the skies.

The AIAA Aircraft Design Award is presented to an individual or team for an original concept or career contributions leading to a significant advancement in aircraft design or design technology.

2024 AIAA Fluid Dynamics Award

Mark Glauser, Emeritus and Research Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University

Award Citation: For seminal contributions on the innovative use of multi-point low dimensional methods for understanding and control of turbulent flows.

The AIAA Fluid Dynamics 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.

2024 AIAA Ground Testing Award

Marvin Sellers, Subject Matter Expert, 716th TS, Axient, Inc.

Award Citation: In recognition of decades of tremendous contributions to the national ground test and evaluation community, most particularly in the advancement of pressure-sensitive paint techniques.

The AIAA Ground Testing 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.

2024 AIAA Losey Atmospheric Sciences Award

Duane Waliser, Chief Scientist, Earth Science and Technology Directorate, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Award Citation: For highly impactful science and leadership contributions to atmospheric and Earth system science that have progressively advanced and leveraged space-based Earth observations.

The AIAA Robert M. Losey Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the atmospheric sciences as applied to the advancement of aeronautics and astronautics.

2024 AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award

Kumar Bhatia, Boeing Senior Technical Fellow, The Boeing Company (Retired)

Award Citation: For pioneering the use of multidisciplinary design optimization in transport aircraft and developing a rapid approach for aircraft MDO employing appropriate fidelity analyses.

The AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the development and/or application of techniques of multidisciplinary design optimization in the context of aerospace engineering.

2024 AIAA Piper General Aviation Award

Noel Duerksen, Consultant

Award Citation: For contributions to general aviation safety and ease of use including the first certified envelope protection system and the first certified autonomous emergency landing system in general aviation.

The AIAA Piper General Aviation Award is presented for outstanding contributions leading to the advancement of general aviation by an individual or group.

2024 AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award

Kurt A. Polzin, Chief Engineer, Space Nuclear Propulsion, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Award Citation: For seminal modeling of pulsed inductive plasma accelerators providing both a fundamental understanding of underlying physics and practical approaches to optimization of energy deposition.

The AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award recognizes 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.

2024 AIAA Thermophysics Award

Greg F. Naterer, Vice President, Academic and Research, University of Prince Edward Island

Award Citation: For significant contributions to heat transfer in multiphase flows, thermochemical processes, and thermal design using entropy and the second law of thermodynamics.

The AIAA Thermophysics 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.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, APR, [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.