Tag: Washington

BryceTech to Steer Investment and Innovation Conversation at ASCEND 2026

FROM THE INSTITUTE
When ASCEND 2026 convenes in Washington, D.C., 19-21 May, BryceTech will step into a new role: curating a dedicated two-day track that aims to connect investors, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders across the commercial space ecosystem. “We set this up … with the theme of investment and innovators,” said Elaine Gresham, director of the Space Center of Excellence at BryceTech, explaining that 19 May is designated as Investors Day and 20 May as Innovators Day.

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ASCEND 2026 Program to Launch with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman

FROM THE INSTITUTE
ASCEND 2026 will open on Tuesday, 19 May, with keynote remarks from Jared Isaacman, the 15th Administrator of NASA. It’s not his first time appearing at ASCEND. Isaacman spoke at ASCEND in 2021, just after returning from commanding Inspiration4, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight. Now he’ll share perspectives from his new role leading America’s space program.

ASCEND 2026 Assembles Space Industry’s Most Influential Voices in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced today a powerful lineup of speakers who will take the stage at ASCEND 2026, 19–21 May, Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. The event will address the most important opportunities and mission-critical challenges at this pivotal time for the space community.

“We are proud to bring the global space community to experience ASCEND in Washington, D.C. Eight leading organizations from across the industry are joining the ASCEND team this year and strengthening our content to deliver a must-attend event,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry.

“This year’s program is timely and transformative, as the space community looks to accelerate exploration and science. ASCEND 2026 will showcase the leading voices from space commerce, security, and policy to build our off-world future. It will be the most comprehensive gathering of space professionals in the nation’s capital in 2026 with 2,000 participants expected,” Mowry added.

Powered by AIAA, ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future. Lockheed Martin is the Founding Sponsor of ASCEND. Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is the Premier Event Partner. Event partners include: BryceTech, ISS National Laboratory, National Air and Space Museum, Novaspace, Space Force Association (SFA), Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), and The Aerospace Corporation.

Over 200 industry luminaries from across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, adjacent industries, and the next-generation workforce are featured as speakers. Confirmed speakers include:

Erik Antonsen, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School
The Honorable Brian Babin (TX-36), Chair, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Olga Bannova, Research Professor, University of Houston
David Baumann, Director, Human Research Program, NASA
Harriet Brettle, Executive Director, Keck Institute for Space Studies
Will Bruey, CEO, Varda
Tory Bruno, President, Blue National Security, Blue Origin
A.C. Charania, Senior Vice President of Space Business Development, Zeno Power
Anne Cheever, Founder, Vela Scientific
Carissa Christensen, Founder and CEO, BryceTech
Jonathan Cirtain, CEO & President, Axiom Space
John Conafay, CEO, Integrate Space
Katie Cranor, Executive Director, Office of Operational Safety, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, FAA
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Director, Astrophysics Division, NASA
Jonny Dyer, CEO, Muon Space
Shirley Dyke, Donald A. and Patricia A. Coates Professor of Innovation in Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
Debra Facktor, Head of US Space Systems, Airbus US Space & Defense
David Goldstein, Principal Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer, SpaceX
James “Jim” Green, CEO, Space Science Endeavors
Dana “Keoki” Jackson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MITRE National Security, and AIAA President-Elect
Taylor Jordan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, NOAA
Mike Kincaid, President & Executive Director, Challenger Center
Josef Koller, Head of Space Safety and Sustainability, Amazon Leo
Joe Landon, Co-Founder & President, Rendezvous Robotics
Kris Lehnhardt, M.D., Director, Space Medicine Program, UTHealth Houston
Dana Levin, Director of Space Medicine and Human Research, Vast Inc.
Janna Lewis, Senior Vice President, Policy & General Counsel, Astroscale US
Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space
Laura Lucier, Chief, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, NASA
Ray Lugo, CEO, ISS National Laboratory
Sandra Magnus, Principal, AstroPlanetview LLC
Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director, Spaceport America
Kristen McQuinn, Mission Head, Roman Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
Rob Meyerson, CEO, Interlune
Mike Moses, President, Spaceline, Virgin Galactic
Clay Mowry, CEO, AIAA
Michelle Murray, Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Management, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, FAA
Clive Neal, Professor of Planetary Geology, University of Notre Dame
Charles Norton, Chief Technology Strategist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Michael Roberts, Chief Scientist, ISS National Laboratory
Ryan Shepperd, Lead SSA Engineer, Iridium
Erika Wagner, Lead, US Business Development, The Exploration Company-US
Matthew Weinzierl, Professor & Senior Associate Dean, Harvard Business School

Dynamic Sessions Featured All Week

Deep technical content scheduled. AIAA events are well known for the depth of technical content presented, with over 200 technical presentations and collaborative sessions at ASCEND. ISS National Laboratory will bring even more technical presentations from its microgravity community that has been conducting research onboard the orbiting lab.
CSF will host its two-day Commercial Space Policy Summit (CSPS), 19–20 May. From launch cadence and regulatory reform to lunar and orbital infrastructure, national security, and the future of commercial space stations, this year’s Summit will tackle the most pressing issues shaping the space economy. Registration for CSPS includes access to ASCEND.
The Aerospace Corporation will host a Classified Day at the TS/SCI level on 18 May at its Chantilly, Virginia, office, with additional registration required. Additionally, they will host the Space Transformation Track on 21 May, comprising sessions designed to accelerate the space industrial base and progress in national priority areas for space.
BryceTech will host its inaugural Start-up Space Pitch Competition. Start-ups from across space and space-adjacent industries (series A or earlier) can apply. Finalists will pitch start-up space experts during ASCEND 2026. One winner will receive a Start-up Space Advisory Package from BryceTech, a one-year AIAA Corporate Membership, and more. Applications are open through 19 April.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will host a three-session deep dive into preserving the ISS National Laboratory as we prepare for its end of mission. Why save ISS heritage? What should be saved from the ISS? How will we recover items from ISS?
SGAC will host its SGx 2026 event, 17–18 May, focused on cultivating the next generation of space leaders with “lightning talks” followed by moderated Q&A panels that tackle pressing issues and innovative ideas to inspire the next generation of space leaders. Additional registration required through SGAC.

Early-Bird Registration Rates Available

Registration for ASCEND 2026 is open now, with early-bird rates available until 20 April. Journalists should request a Press Pass online.

Since 2020, ASCEND has promoted 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.

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

2026 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics on Learning and Controlling Autonomous Space Systems to be Presented by Maruthi Akella from University of Texas at Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2026 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics is awarded to Maruthi Akella, Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas (UT) Austin, where he holds the Cockrell Family Endowed Chair in Engineering.

The lecture, “Opinion Dynamics, Learning, Trust, and Control of Autonomous Space Systems,” will be presented Wednesday, 20 May, at 12:15 p.m. ET, during ASCEND 2026, 19–21 May, Washington, D.C. The lecture will be delivered in person, as well as recorded. Registration for 2026 ASCEND is open now. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.

Autonomous space systems face significant challenges when operating under uncertainty, especially near other vehicles that may not cooperate. In applications like In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM), these systems must quickly learn, adapt, and make smart decisions in complex, unpredictable environments.

This lecture will showcase a framework for multithread learning designed to maintain spacecraft performance despite high uncertainty and fast variations. The approach builds on recently developed learning structures and trust metrics. During his lecture, Akella will illustrate the framework through ISAM examples in spacecraft guidance and proximity operations.

Akella’s research contributions have found several highly successful applications in astrodynamics and in the control of space systems and vision-guided robotics. His research group contributed to the onboard guidance algorithm for the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission – the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years since the Apollo era.

Akella has published more than 260 research papers in peer-reviewed archival journals and conference proceedings. The major impacts of his work have been recognized through the AIAA Mechanics and Control of Flight Award, the AAS Dirk Brouwer Award, the IEEE-CSS Award for Excellence in Aerospace Control, and the Judith Resnik Space Award from the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society.

In October 2024, the International Astronomical Union designated asteroid number 5376 – a nearly five-mile diameter-sized minor planet from the main asteroid belt as “Maruthiakella,” honoring Akella’s contributions to “many successful applications in astrodynamics.”

Akella is a Fellow of AIAA, IEEE, and AAS and holds the Academician rank with the International Academy of Astronautics. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences.

Named in honor of Theodore von Kármán, a world-famous authority on aerospace sciences, this lectureship honors an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics.

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.

2026 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce Presented by Blue Origin’s Tory Bruno During ASCEND 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2026 AIAA David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce is awarded to Tory Bruno, President, Blue National Security, Blue Origin, and former president and CEO, United Launch Alliance (ULA).

Bruno’s lecture, “Transforming ULA: Shaping the Future of Space Launch,” will be presented Tuesday, 19 May, 12:15 p.m. ET, during ASCEND 2026, 19–21 May, Washington, D.C. The lecture will be delivered in person, as well as recorded and available on demand. Registration for ASCEND 2026 is open now. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.

Bruno’s lecture will address his leadership tenure at ULA which began in 2014, a pivotal time when the industry was on the precipice of a new competitive launch market. He implemented a business strategy to completely transform ULA to compete in a global commercial environment, while continuing to launch ULA’s customers’ critical missions with 100% mission success. Under Bruno’s leadership, ULA also began developing a new next-generation rocket, purpose-built to maintain the accurate delivery of the U.S. government’s most complex missions. As a testament to the company’s corporate change, ULA recently received the largest commercial rocket purchase in history.

Bruno is an expert in several rocketry and hypersonic technologies and holds multiple related patents. He is a tireless advocate for the industry, sharing his passion for space technology and his vision of a self-sustaining human presence beyond Earth. He joined Blue Origin in January 2026, overseeing the development of cutting-edge products, services, and technologies to enhance national security missions.

Bruno is an AIAA Honorary Fellow. He also is a former member of the Defense Innovation Board Space Advisory Committee and the National Academy of Engineering. Bruno has served on the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group and as an advisor to the Vice President of the United States on space policy, regulation, and technology. He also has received the Von Braun Trophy, the von Karman Medal, a member of the Space and Satellite Professionals Hall of Fame, and a member of the San Diego Air & Space Museum International Hall of Fame.

The David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce recognizes a prominent industry leader or senior management team who has created or grown a space-related business and generated substantial economic benefits and market value. It was endowed by Orbital ATK to commemorate the long and distinguished career of commercial space pioneer, David W. Thompson.

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.

AIAA, CSF, SFA, and SGAC Collaborate to Expand ASCEND 2026 in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Integrated Event Scheduled for 19–21 May 2026

May 29, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the Commercial Space Federation (CSF), the Space Force Association (SFA), and the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)announced today they are joining forces on an integrated space event, ASCEND 2026, spanning the week of 19–21 May 2026 in Washington, D.C.

“The vision of ASCEND has always been as a platform for accelerating the use of space for exploration, R&D, national security, and commercial innovation,” said Clay Mowry, chief executive officer, AIAA. “We are thrilled to bring ASCEND to the nation’s capital with these new event partners. Our new collaboration isn’t just exciting, it’s transformative – creating enormous synergies for the space community for learning, technical exchange, and in-depth dialogue. This new ‘Space Week’ will showcase the full spectrum of space policy, commerce, security, and innovation to build our off-world future.”

Space Policy and Leadership – Commercial Space Federation (CSF)

CSF is joining ASCEND as the premier event partner to design and deliver programming during ASCEND 2026 on the most pressing commercial space issues facing the industry. This move will continue CSF’s leadership on space policy discussions that were historically held during its flagship Washington, D.C., event, the Commercial Space Policy Conference.

Dave Cavossa, president, CSF, added, “CSF is excited to join forces with AIAA and other partners to reimagine a modern space event that is aligned to the policy challenges of today and tomorrow for the commercial space ecosystem. We want those vital discussions to happen in Washington, D.C., bringing all the critical voices together in the town where so much of our global space policy is shaped.”

National Security Space – Space Force Association (SFA)

Through an enhanced focus on national security space, ASCEND 2026 will feature expanded content highlighting its criticality to this community. SFA will provide sessions and speakers in the expanded event, designed to enable U.S. Space Force Guardians to collaborate with the commercial and civil space communities to enhance strategic partnerships and counter growing threats. In addition, ASCEND 2026 will feature a classified event that will provide attendees with mission critical insights.

Next Generation of Aerospace Professionals – Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)

As the largest network of university students and young professionals working in the global aerospace industry, SGAC will deliver its signature fast-paced, content-rich programming to ASCEND 2026. Modeled on the TEDx “lightning talk” format used at its previous SGx event, SGAC will create an environment where young professionals, industry experts, and government executives can network, share insights, and inspire each other.

The ASCEND 2026 Call for Content will open in early July 2025, inviting the global space community to submit technical abstracts and propose collaborative session topics across a broad range of disciplines.

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

CSF Contact: Kenya McEachern, [email protected]

SFA Contact: Karen Lawrie, [email protected]

SGAC Contact: Tatiana Komorna, [email protected]

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. Visit www.aiaa.org or follow us: X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Commercial Space Federation

CSF is the leading U.S.-based trade association representing the commercial space industry. Our members represent multiple sectors of the space economy including launch and reentry, remote sensing, spaceports, satellite-based internet, in-space research and manufacturing, commercial space stations, space situational awareness, and more. CSF and its members are focused on expanding America’s leadership in space by offering innovative – and often less expensive – solutions to U.S. government customers including NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and the intelligence community. CSF advocates for policies that will grow a sustainable space economy, the global value of which is already estimated at $570 billion and projected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035.

About Space Force Association

The Space Force Association (SFA) is the only independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as a professional military association whose sole focus is supporting the United States Space Force, United States Space Command, U.S. national spacepower at large, and our global partners and allies’ efforts in space exploration. Its core functions are to research, inform, and advocate to achieve superior spacepower by shaping a Space Force that provides credible deterrence in competition, dominant capability in combat, and professional services for all partners. In addition, the SFA has an essential function to provide support for the men and women of the U.S. Space Force.

About Space Generation Advisory Council

The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications is a global non-governmental, non-profit (US 501(c)3) organization and network that connects and represents university students and young space professionals aged 18–35 to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia. With members in over 165 countries, SGAC fosters international collaboration, capacity-building, and innovation in the space sector. The organization hosts flagship events such as the annual Space Generation Congress (SGC), SGx, SGFF and regional Space Generation Workshops (SGWs), publishes policy recommendations, and provides scholarships to empower young professionals. SGAC is also dedicated to STEM outreach and advocacy, inspiring and enabling the next generation of space leaders.

Stephen W. Tsai to Receive the 2025 Daniel Guggenheim Medal for Revolutionizing Composite Materials Technology for Aerospace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2025 – Reston, Va. – Stephen W. Tsai has been awarded the 2025 Daniel Guggenheim Medal for his series of pioneering innovations revolutionizing design and simplifying manufacturing processes of composites, shaping today’s composites industry. Tsai is Research Professor Emeritus, Stanford University. He will receive the prestigious award during the 2025 AIAA Awards Gala on Wednesday, 30 April, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC.

The Daniel Guggenheim Medal was established in 1929 to honor innovators who make notable achievements in the advancement of aeronautics. Its first recipient was Orville Wright. The medal is jointly sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), SAE International (SAE), and the Vertical Flight Society (VFS).

“Dr. Steve Tsai is a visionary scientist and advocate for innovation through his practical and easy to interpret problem solving approach. His foundational and transformational contribution in lamination theory, manufacturing, to failure criteria for over 60 years brought renewed excitement in composites technology to aeronautical systems as it stands today. It is my true honor to nominate him for this prestigious award,” said Ajit Roy, Principal Materials Research Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and nominator.

“On behalf of the Guggenheim Medal Board, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. Dr. Tsai’s groundbreaking contributions to composite materials and their application in Aerospace Structural Engineering have had a profound impact on both the aerospace industry and the broader community,” added Sivaram Gogineni, president, Spectral Energies, and chair, Guggenheim Medal Board.

Born and raised in Beijing, Tsai earned his D.Eng at Yale University in 1961. He began his work in composites at Ford/Aeronutronic, continued onto Washington University in 1966, Air Force Materials Laboratory in 1968, and has been with Stanford University since 1990.

Tsai’s early works included Tsai-Hill and Tsai-Wu failure criteria, lamination parameter plots, and invariant transformation relations. His series of pioneering innovations for composites property (stiffness) optimization and strength estimation enabling simplified approaches has been universally accepted by industry worldwide. Since his retirement from Stanford in 2001, his work led to single parameters for laminate stiffness in Tsai’s modulus, and von Mises area in laminate failure envelopes. Materials and laminates can then be ranked and scaled. He also discovered double-double lamination that is rapidly replacing the legacy Quad.

He is the founding editor of the Journal of Composite Materials begun in 1967, and he co-authored the textbook, Introduction to Composite Materials, in 1980, which has been translated into numerous languages. He began conducting the annual Composites Computation Workshops at the University of California Berkeley in 1966, training thousands of engineers for 17 consecutive years. In 2006, he started the Composites Design Workshop at Stanford, transitioning to online training, which continues to be offered.

Tsai was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1995. He became a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1983.

Past recipients of the Guggenheim Medal are some of the greatest names in aerospace, including Holt Ashley, Lawrence Bell, William Boeing, James Doolittle, Donald Douglas, Charles Stark Draper, Hugh Dryden, Robert Goddard, Jerome Hunsaker, Theodore von Kármán, Charles Lindbergh, Glenn Martin, Frank Robinson, Burt Rutan, Igor Sikorsky, and Walter Vincenti, among many others.

For more information about the AIAA/ASME/SAE/VFS Daniel Guggenheim Medal, contact Patricia A. Carr, Guggenheim Secretary, at [email protected].

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca B. 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, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram..

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. For more information visit www.asme.org.

About SAE International
SAE is the leader in connecting and educating mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. Our core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International’s charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series. For more information visit www.sae.org.

About The Vertical Flight Society
Founded as the American Helicopter Society in 1943, the Vertical Flight Society today advocates, promotes and supports global vertical flight technology and professional development. For 80 years, the Society has provided leadership for the advancement of vertical flight. For more information, visit www.vtol.org or follow us on Twitter at @VTOLsociety.

Penina Axelrad Awarded 2024 Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Axelrad’s address, “The Evolution and Impact of Global Navigation Satellite Systems,” set for Oct. 1, 2024

July 10, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) are pleased to announce that Penina Axelrad, distinguished professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering.

Dr. Axelrad will present her lecture, “The Evolution and Impact of Global Navigation Satellite Systems,” on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. ET, in conjunction with the NAE Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Registration for this lecture is free and open to the public.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) provide the basis for smartphones to effectively guide us to our destinations, safe and flexible navigation for tens of thousands of airline flights per day, seamless synchronization of power grids, and precise timing of financial transactions. GNSS also enable scientific observation of Earth’s variable gravity field, soil water content and vegetation, and even Earth’s atmosphere and ocean surface winds. Dr. Axelrad’s lecture will discuss what we can learn from the remarkable evolution of a military navigation system into a global utility, and will explore where today’s advances in the utilization of signals-of-opportunity, optical communications, atomic clocks, and quantum sensing might lead.

Dr. Axelrad is a distinguished professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985 and 1986, respectively. In 1991, she earned her doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University.

Since 1992, she has been a faculty member in aerospace engineering sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, with a focus on astrodynamics and satellite navigation, and she served as department chair from 2012 to 2017. She has supervised 26 doctoral graduates and taught courses on topics including GPS, dynamics and systems, spacecraft dynamics, and estimation.

Axelrad and her students have made key contributions to GPS receiver autonomous integrity monitoring, GPS-based attitude determination, the characterization of multipath effects in GPS measurements, the utilization of reflected GPS signals for remote sensing of Earth’s surface, and direct positioning. Her current research interests include new technologies and algorithms for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in space, airborne, and land environments.

Axelrad is a member of the NAE and an AIAA Fellow. She also is a fellow of the Institute of Navigation (ION). She is a past recipient of the AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award, the ION Johannes Kepler Award, and the Women in Aerospace Educator Award.

AIAA, with the participation and support of the NAE, created the Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering to honor the memory of the late pioneering rocket scientist, AIAA Honorary Fellow, and NAE member Yvonne C. Brill. Brill was best known for developing a revolutionary propulsion system that remains the industry standard for geostationary satellite station-keeping. The lectureship emphasizes research or engineering issues for space travel and exploration, aerospace education of students and the public, and other aerospace issues such as ensuring a diverse and robust engineering community.

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

NAE Media Contact: Sabrina Steinberg, [email protected], 202.334.2622

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.

About NAE
Founded in 1964, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. The mission of the NAE is to advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering. Follow NAE on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Michimasa Fujino to Receive the 2024 Daniel Guggenheim Medal for Design and Development of the HondaJet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2024 – Reston, Va. – Michimasa Fujino has been awarded the 2024 Daniel Guggenheim Medal for technical innovation and leadership in conceiving, designing, and bringing HondaJet to a leading position in the business jet market. Fujino will receive the prestigious award during the 2024 AIAA Awards Gala on Wednesday, 15 May, at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts*, Washington, DC.

“It is an honor and a privilege to nominate Mr. Fujino for the Daniel Guggenheim Medal. His visionary leadership and meticulous engineering have created the most advanced very light jet in the world. His innovative Over-the-Wing Engine Mount design has set a new standard for performance and efficiency in the aviation industry. Mr. Fujino is a true pioneer and a deserving recipient of this prestigious award,” said Mark Ofsthun, Senior Manager, Methods & F&DT, Honda Aircraft Company, and nominator.

Michimasa Fujino, retired founding president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company, was responsible for the design and development, certification, production, sales, and service of the HondaJet. Fujino joined Honda R&D in 1984 and led aeronautical research of aircraft configuration design, aerodynamics, flight control, avionics system, advanced composite structure, and aeroelasticity. He became project leader of HondaJet in 1997 and developed HondaJet with advanced technologies. In 2006, Fujino founded Honda Aircraft Company and focused on the dual tasks of obtaining type certification of the new aircraft and creating a new company and organization for aircraft development, certification, and manufacturing. He also established a worldwide sales and service network for HondaJet. With his aeronautical breakthroughs, Fujino’s clean sheet design was proven to enhance aircraft performance and fuel efficiency and provide exceptional comfort for passengers. HondaJet became the best-selling business jet in its class.

Fujino has received international recognition for his pioneering contributions to aeronautical research and design. He has been the recipient of numerous international awards and distinctions, including the Elmer A. Sperry Award, AIAA Reed Aeronautics Award, ICAS Award for Innovation in Aeronautics, SAE Clarence L. (Kelly) Johnson Aerospace Vehicle Design and Development Award, AIAA Aircraft Design Award, Prime Minister Award of Japan Industry and induction to the Living Legends of Aviation. In addition, Fujino has been recognized in the industrial design field and received the Good Design Gold Award and the Japan Industrial Designers’ Association Design Museum Award. His extensive research and theories on aircraft configuration design, advanced aerodynamics, and aeroelasticity have been published in technical and academic journals, and he holds several patents for aircraft design.

Fujino holds a Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in aeronautical engineering from the University of Tokyo. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), SAE International, and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). He is also an international member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

For more information about the AIAA/ASME/SAE/VFS Daniel Guggenheim Medal, contact Patricia A. Carr, Guggenheim Secretary, at [email protected].

*Note: This event is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.

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

About SAE International
SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 128,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series™. For more information visit www.sae.org.