FROM THE INSTITUTE
The next era of space starts here. SGx 2026: Inventing New Orbits brings together students, young professionals, and leaders from NASA, Blue Origin, Airbus, Northrop Grumman, and beyond for two days of TEDx-style talks, hands-on workshops, and high-voltage networking at the Washington Hilton. Catch a National Geographic screening on Sally Ride, compete in the space art competition, and hear what’s next straight from the people building it. Early bird pricing ends 10 May.
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SGx 2026 Registration is Open
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The future of space leadership converges in Washington, D.C., 17–18 May. Join the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), in partnership with ASCEND and the Future Space Leaders Foundation (FSLF), for the 11th SGx conference—a fast-paced, high-access gathering where students, young professionals, and industry and government leaders shape what comes next for the global space sector. Secure your seat today!
AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026 to Showcase Next Generation Flight Technologies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced its program for AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026, 8-12 June, Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, Calif. This year’s theme, “From Velocity to Altitude – Accelerating Toward Tomorrow,” captures the acceleration of aviation technology.
“Next generation technologies are reshaping both the pace and direction of aerospace innovation,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry. “This event is mission essential for aviation professionals from industry, government, and academia – ensuring next generation air transportation systems are safe, efficient, and ready for what’s next.”
Educational, Interactive, Mission-Critical Program Planned
From the main stage, attendees will learn about the technologies redefining flight – AI in the cockpit, electric aircraft, hydrogen propulsion, and beyond. The speakers and panelists represent the leading aviation agencies, companies, and universities from around the world. One feature of the week is a live update from NASA Aeronautics on its vision and outlook for the years ahead.
Confirmed speakers include (in alphabetical order):
- Darcy Allison, Advanced Development Engineering Workflow Lead, Anduril Industries
- Phil Ansell, Associate Professor and Allen Ormsbee Faculty Scholar, Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Bimal Aponso, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Dynamic Systems, Federal Aviation Administration
- Lori Arnett, Associate Director for Digital Transformation, Aerosciences and Evaluation Test Capabilities, NASA
- Luc Van Bavel, CTO/Co-Founder, Evio
- Andreas “Andy” Bernhard, Director, Structures, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
- Kevin Bowcutt, Senior Technical Fellow and Chief Scientist of Hypersonics, The Boeing Company
- Gaudy Bezos-O’Connor, Project Manager, Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration, Integrated Aviation Systems Program, NASA
- John Cavolowsky, Director, Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA
- Carlos Cesnik, Richard A. Auhll Department Chair and Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan
- Joshua Deaton, Deputy Chief Scientist, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
- Marc Fischer, Senior Vice President Engineering – HO Cabin and Cargo Centre of Competence, Airbus
- Robert D. Gregg III, Chief Aerodynamicist, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
- Roberto I. Guerrero, USAF Operational Energy (Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy, Safety and Occupational Health (SOH), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment)
- Tom Gunnarson, Lead of Regulatory Affairs, Wisk
- Kelley Hashemi, Associate Director, Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program, NASA
- Scott Kaslusky, Vice President, Aerospace Technology, RTX
- David King, Chief Engineer, Vertical Aerospace
- Travis Klopfenstein, Innovation Program Manager, Collins Aerospace
- Parimal “PK” Kopardekar, Airspace Operations and Safety Program Acting Director, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA
- Ed Lovelace, CTO and VP Engineering, Ampaire
- Nateri Madavan, Advanced Air Vehicles Program Director, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA
- Dmitri Mavris, Distinguished Regent’s Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Kate McMurtry, Integrated Aviation Systems Program Acting Director, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA
- Bjorn Nagel, Director, Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics, DLR
- Ryan Naru, Aviation Policy and Regulatory Affairs Lead, Joby Aviation
- Tim Niznik, Director of Analytics, American Airlines
- Bob Pearce, Associate Administrator, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, NASA
- Prajwal Prakasha, Group Lead-Aviation System Design and Assessment, DLR
- Amy Pritchett, Professor and Head of Aerospace Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
- Jeremy Roehm, Chief of Technology and Partnerships – US, Rolls-Royce
- OJ Sanchez, Vice President and General Manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®
- Venke Sankaran, Chief Scientist of Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
- Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO, Boom Supersonic
- Cleiton Diniz Pereira da Silva e Silva, Vice President of Technology and Advanced Projects, Embraer
- Adam Shepherd, Northrop Grumman Fellow–Digital Engineering, Northrop Grumman
- Jess Sponable, President and Chief Technology Officer, New Frontier Aerospace, Inc.
- JP Stewart, Senior Vice President of Product Development, Electra.aero
- Brandon Suarez, Vice President of UAS Integration, Reliable Robotics
- John Vassberg, Chief Design Officer, JetZero
- Graham Warwick, Executive Editor, Technology, Aviation Week
- Paige Stanton Wilson, Chief Development Officer, Acubed
AIAA forums are well known for the depth of technical content presented. The technical program features over 1,000 presentations spanning more than 20 research topics, covering fluid dynamics, applied aerodynamics, air transportation systems, thermophysics, multidisciplinary design optimization, and more.
A slate of hands-on technical courses workshops are scheduled, with expert instructors speaking on the timeliest aviation topics:
- Design of Electrified Propulsion Aircraft Course
- AIAA Drag Prediction and Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop
- 3rd AIAA Workshop on Multifidelity Methods for Design and Uncertainty Quantification
- Propeller Aerodynamics for Advanced Air Mobility: Fundamentals and Integration Effects Course
- Computational Aeroelasticity Course
- Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics Course
Attendees can participate in the Electric Propulsion and Advanced Technology Symposium (EPATS) Conference during the week. The EPATS keynote addresses, panel discussions, and technical sessions will focus on the continued technological development, design, evaluation, characterization, modeling, and integration of electrified aircraft components and systems.
Registration for the forum is open, with early-bird rates ending 11 May. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.
Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About AIAA
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 X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
SGx 2026 Registration is Open
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The future of space leadership converges in Washington, D.C., 17–18 May. Join the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), in partnership with ASCEND and the Future Space Leaders Foundation (FSLF), for the 11th SGx conference—a fast-paced, high-access gathering where students, young professionals, and industry and government leaders shape what comes next for the global space sector. Secure your seat today!
AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 to Break Barriers Together
Registration Is Open for the World’s Largest Aerospace R&D Event
October 9, 2025 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced registration is open for the premier aerospace R&D event of the year, AIAA SciTech Forum 2026, 12–16 January, Hyatt Regency Orlando, Orlando, Florida.
The forum’s inspirational theme, “Breaking Barriers Together: Boundless Discovery,” will deliver sessions and presentations envisioning the possibilities for aerospace’s future. More than 5,000 engineering minds from across industry, government, and academia are expected to gather, setting the pace of innovation and connection for the year.
From artificial intelligence and autonomy to high-speed propulsion and quantum computing, the program is designed to engage aerospace professionals in the next breakthroughs. The forum features nearly 3,000 technical presentations, as well as an extensive lineup of aerospace and defense industry leaders and innovators from across industry, government, and academia as speakers.
Confirmed plenary speakers include:
- Jonathan Arenberg, Fellow and Chief Mission Architect for Science and Robotic Exploration, Northrop Grumman, will provide a unique look at NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the premier observatory of the next decade that is studying every phase in the history of our universe. Having served as Northrop Grumman’s chief engineer on Webb, he will share his insights into its origins, development, operation, and lessons learned.
- Arbi Karapetian, Director, Innovation and Technology, Formula 1, will share how early-stage science and technology innovation fuels performance across industries. He will draw from his nearly 30 years of aerospace experience, most recently with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
New this year is the intensive Career Accelerator Program for university students. This full-day program will provide practical and actionable strategies to attendees to launch and navigate their careers in aerospace. Planned for Monday, 12 January, attendees will gain insights into what it takes to succeed in the industry with a series of expert-led microsessions offering leadership development tools and the latest career advice. The popular Student Lounge will be sponsored by Lockheed Martin for the next generation of aerospace professionals to network with each other throughout the week.
Premier sponsor Lockheed Martin will deliver sessions during the week on its AI Fight Club™, a head-to-head competitive environment designed to accelerate how artificial intelligence is developed and deployed. Speakers will share insights about this comprehensive testing ground that simulates how AI systems perform across domains – air, land, sea and space – to test models that meet Department of Defense (DOD) qualifications.
Features of the forum include:
- 60+ Technical Disciplines: The deep technical content sets an AIAA forum apart from other industry events. Technical sessions will cover applied aerodynamics; fluid dynamics; guidance, navigation, and control; intelligent systems; propellants and combustion; and many more.
- 100+ Exhibitors: With hardware displays to live demos to hands-on experiences, the expanded Expo Hall will showcase the latest technological developments from top companies, universities, and government agencies.
- Rising Leaders in Aerospace: Special programming and networking opportunities are scheduled for young professionals, designed by young professionals, including the popular Speed Mentoring session, as well as panels and interactive workshops on a variety of topics.
- Meet the Employers and Meet the Universities: These speed networking style events return for AIAA Corporate Members to recruit students and young professionals seeking their next steps in employment or advanced degree programs.
- Talks at the HUB: The Expo Hall will feature a series of lightning talks from innovators and inventors, with direct audience engagement from the dedicated HUB stage.
Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. For the most up-to-date program and registration information, visit SciTech.aiaa.org. Press passes are available by emailing [email protected].
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 LinkedIn, Instagram, X/Twitter, and Facebook.