Tag: open

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.

Learn More

2026 AIAA Election Now Open

The AIAA Council Nominating Committee has assembled an outstanding slate of candidates. We urge all eligible voting members to carefully consider each candidate and select those who most closely reflect your values and your vision for the future of AIAA. All candidates are highly qualified, and all are anxious to serve.

The election is being held 26 January–20 February 2026.

Learn More and Cast Your Vote! 

2026 AIAA Election Guide

Challenger Center and AIAA Open Nominations for 2026 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three winners will be honored for enthusiasm and dedication to STEM education

Washington and Reston, Va. (October 20, 2025) –  Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced they are accepting nominations for the 2026 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award. The annual award celebrates K-12 teachers going above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators. Nominations can be submitted online through December 15, 2025.

Three winners will be selected from the nominations and announced in early 2026. Each winner and their respective school or organization will be awarded $5,000. They will also receive free access to Challenger Center’s STEM education programs and have the opportunity to attend a space launch experience and/or a VIP tour of an aerospace facility.

“Educators play a vital role in sparking curiosity and helping students see themselves as future scientists, engineers, and explorers,” said Mike Kincaid, President and Executive Director, Challenger Center. “We are proud to again partner with AIAA to recognize the teachers who tend to that spark every day.”

“We share a commitment with Challenger Center to support educators who inspire and empower today’s students. They are developing the next generation STEM workforce that will make the next breakthroughs in aerospace,” said Clay Mowry, CEO, AIAA. “Their impact reaches far beyond the classroom – it reaches the stars.”

The award recognizes teachers who connect classroom lessons to the country’s current and future plans of STEM exploration and innovation, introduce students to STEM careers, and activate students’ imagination about space exploration. Past awardees have represented schools from across the United States and have gone on to achieve remarkable milestones—including participating in a Zero-G flight, being selected to serve on the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group, and even traveling to space as a commercial astronaut.

About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center provides hundreds of thousands of students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit https://www.challenger.org/ or connect on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

About AIAA Foundation
The AIAA Foundation inspires and supports the next generation of aerospace professionals. From classroom to career, the AIAA Foundation enables innovative K-12 and university programming, including STEM classroom grants, scholarships, conferences, and hands-on competitions. Founded in 1996, the AIAA Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational organization connected to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

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

AIAA Announces New $10,000 Mary W. Jackson Scholarship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation has launched a $10,000 undergraduate scholarship honoring the late NASA mathematician and aerospace engineer, Mary W. Jackson. The scholarship was created to provide even greater access to opportunity for the best students studying in the aerospace sciences and will be available to students studying at institutions in the United States or its territories.

“Honoring pioneering NASA scientist and aerospace engineer, Mary W. Jackson, through a scholarship is not just a tribute to her pioneering spirit, but a commitment to empowering the next generation of aerospace engineers. By investing in today’s students, AIAA is ensuring that her legacy inspires innovation and excellence in aerospace for years to come,” said Laura McGill, AIAA Foundation Chair.

Applications open 1 October 2024 and close 31 January 2025. The scholarship will be awarded in summer 2025. Students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

For more information on AIAA’s Undergraduate Scholarships and Graduate Awards Program, visit aiaa.org/foundation.

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.

2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum Adds Prominent Speakers

June 1, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the addition of several prominent industry professionals and government officials to its 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 12–16 June, San Diego. The five-day program will address the theme, “Revolutionary Leaps Toward a New Age of Aviation.”

On Tuesday, 13, June, 0800 hrs PT, Alan Weston, CEO, LTA Research and Exploration, will deliver the day’s keynote address, “Airships: A Sustainable Path to Decarbonizing Transportation and Complementing Humanitarian Aid.” Other new speakers added include:

  • Pat Anderson, CTO, VerdeGo
  • Natalya Bailey, Chief Operating Officer, Curated Innovation
  • Sean Black, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Engineer, Spirit AeroSystems
  • Kevin Bowcutt, Senior Technical Fellow and Chief Scientist of Hypersonics, The Boeing Company
  • Mina Cappuccio, Deputy Manager for University Innovation Project, NASA Ames Research Center
  • Skye Carapetyan, Aircraft Sales & Business Development – Infrastructure, BETA Technologies
  • John Deruchie, Chief – Regional Engineering, Transport Canada
  • John Katsoudas, Founder & CEO, Influent Energy
  • John Morgenstern, Head of Aerodynamics and Boom, Exosonic
  • Carie Mullins, Director of Analytics, BryceTech
  • Tony Mumford, Principal Flight Sciences Engineer, Overair
  • Khin Paing, Vice President of Program Management, Skygrid
  • Lisa Peterson, Vice President, Business Development, AURA Network Systems
  • Dan Sloat, Founder & President, Advanced Air Mobility Institute
  • Jimmy Smith, Unmanned Systems Representative, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)
  • Jia Xu, CTO and Senior Director of Engineering, Unmanned Aerial Systems / Urban Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace

Registration for the 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum is open. Journalists who wish to cover the forum can request a Press Pass here.

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

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.

2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen Application Open: Inviting Unique Ideas on Space Safety, Security, and Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has opened applications for its 2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen program. Thought leaders and activists are invited to apply for this fourth cohort to address the most important issues surrounding space safety, security, and sustainability. Deadline for entries is 2 June.

Known as D12, the program is a partnership between ASCEND and astrodynamicist Moriba Jah, chief scientist and co-founder at Privateer and associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas. This exclusive ASCEND community delivers rapid-fire lightning talks during the ASCEND apex event, 23–25 October, Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. The D12 Op-Eds will be published in conjunction with the event.

Influential thinkers and emerging leaders from around the globe have been featured in D12 during ASCEND since it launched three years ago. The D12 Op-Eds from the previous 35 participants are available online:

The recording of the 2022 ASCEND D12 cohort presentation is available: 2022 ASCEND D12 session.

“How much do you love humanity? Enough to save the planet?!” asks Jah, a space environmentalist who is advancing our ability to understand how human objects in space create both services and risks of collisions. “D12 is centered on the belief that we’re more similar than we are different, and action is best when born from compassion.”

Applications for the 2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen are due on 2 June.

Media Contact: Rebecca 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.

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, or LinkedIn.

2022 AIAA SciTech Forum to Focus on Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Registration Now Open for the World’s Largest Aerospace R&D

October 13, 2021 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced its five-day program on sustainability for the 2022 AIAA SciTech Forum, 3–7 January 2022, San Diego, and virtually. This year’s program features over 3,000 technical presentations and an extensive lineup of industry leaders as speakers, panelists, and presenters. The focus on the timely topic of sustainability will reach beyond traditional environmental sustainability to address the challenges and opportunities in many aspects.

Registration for the 2022 AIAA SciTech Forum is open now for the worldwide aerospace community to attend in person or online. Journalists who wish to cover this event can request a Press Pass here.

“We are excited to welcome the aerospace community to the 2022 AIAA SciTech Forum as we explore the science, technologies, and policies that are shaping our industry’s future and enabling sustainability. There are important issues and perspectives we must share, discuss, and debate around sustainability to strengthen the aerospace industry and position it for continued success,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher. “Following so many online-only events in the past year, we are energized around the chance to gather safely in person again.”

The speakers and panelists participating in the 2022 AIAA SciTech Forum are proven business leaders and innovators within the industry. Attendees will hear their perspectives on socioeconomic and workforce sustainability; operational futures for air and space; sustainability through diversification; and the environment. Some of the speakers confirmed thus far include:

  • Victoria Coleman, Chief Scientist, U.S. Air Force
  • The Honorable Steven J. Isakowitz, President and CEO, The Aerospace Corporation
  • Laura McGill, Deputy Laboratories Director and CTO for Nuclear Deterrence, Sandia National Laboratories
  • Pamela Melroy (Colonel, USAF, Ret.), Deputy Administrator, NASA
  • Steven N. Rader, Manager, NASA Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation
  • Brendan Reed, Director, Airport Planning & Environmental Affairs, San Diego Airport Authority
  • Óscar Rodríguez, President, Bajio Aerospace Cluster

The 2022 event will cover 50+ research topics, including: fluid dynamics; applied aerodynamics; digital engineering; guidance, navigation, and control; propulsion; and more. Some of the planned programming elements include:

  • Daily keynote addresses and panel sessions focusing on dimensions of sustainability, including human/socioeconomic, workforce, diversification, operations, and the environment.
  • The third annual “Idea Challenge” with teams of young professionals pitching ideas or products that fit under “Harvesting Adjacent Industry Technologies to Support Aerospace Sustainability.”

Additional speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks, as details are confirmed. For the most up-to-date program and registration information visit aiaa.org/SciTech.

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.