AIAA Announcements AIAA Announces 2024 Election Results

AIAA has announced the results of its recent 2024 elections. The newly elected AIAA officials will take office in May.

2024 Election Results for Integration and Outreach Activities Division
Director-Elect Young Professional Group: Taylor Fazzini, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems

2024 Election Results for Regional Engagement Activities Division
Director–Region III: Peggy Cornell, NASA Glenn Research Center
Director–Region VI: Oleg Yakimenko, Naval Postgraduate School

2024 Election Results for Technical Activities Division
Director–Aerospace Design and Structures Group: Dawn Phillips, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Director–Aerospace Sciences Group: Martiqua Post, U.S. Air Force Academy

“I am grateful to each of the candidates for their willingness to lead important activities that benefit our profession. Thank you to all our candidates, as well as the members who took the time to get to know them and cast their vote,” said Laura McGill, AIAA President.

AIAA Announcements AIAA Annual Joint Meeting of the Board of Trustees & Council of Directors Notice

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Joint Meeting of the Board of Trustees & Council of Directors of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will be held in person on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, at 8 a.m. ET.

AIAA Council of Directors Meeting
Notice is hereby given that an AIAA Council of Directors Meeting will be held in person on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, at 1:30 p.m. ET.  
Susan Silva, AIAA Governance Administrator

AIAA Program Focusing on Our Next Steps in the LEO-to-Lunar Voyage at ASCENDxTexas

ASCENDxTexas served as a collaborative hub, fostering partnerships and overcoming barriers to build transformative outcomes and to catalyze a new era of the space economy.. Credit: AIAA

The third iteration of ASCENDxTexas, held 14–15 February 2024, was a dynamic dive into projects and strategies that can revolutionize the off-world ecosystem. This event served as a collaborative hub, fostering partnerships and overcoming barriers to build transformative outcomes and to catalyze a new era of the space economy. With record-breaking attendance and hyper-timely sessions (including Intuitive Machines on a panel of launch providers the morning its Odysseus lander began its journey to the moon), ASCENDxTexas continues to grow and solidify itself into a must-attend event on the space industry’s calendar—especially for the Houston region.

Programming comprised sessions vital to the future of the space industry such as a look into NASA’s evolving acquisitions strategy, moon-to-Mars strategy, the challenges and opportunities in creating viable and thriving commercial markets, and how states can creatively draft space-forward state legislation to support both scientific advancement and local business growth. Also discussed were the future of Commercial Lunar Destinations and projecting past the sunset of the International Space Station. With a panel of ISS leaders and operators, the audience got a glimpse into the practical challenges of operations on a space station and were able to ask detailed questions during the Q&A.

Audience engagement was a special theme at ASCENDxTexas, with every session having dedicated Q&A time and many moderators extending that time given the varied and detailed questions the audience posed. The ever-popular Interactive Discussion session engaged attendees in meaningful dialogue around breaking barriers, priorities, and potential solutions to accelerate the space ecosystem. These interactions made networking receptions and breaks between sessions lively with attendee discussion.

ASCENDxTexas included prestigious speakers, intriguing discussions, and even breaking-news content with the live announcement of Texas A&M’s selection as the first approved facility for Exploration Park on NASA Johnson Space Center land. Learn more about our ASCENDxSeries events and keep an eye out for next year’s ASCENDxTexas at ascend.events/ascendx.

AIAA Foundation Making an Impact: 2024 Kahn Scholarship Recipients

(L to R): Alexis Andrulonis, Daisy Li, Leslie Nava, and Khue Phan. Credit: Andrulonis/Li/Nava/Phan

The AIAA Foundation was thrilled to see so many incredible high school seniors apply for this year’s Roger W. Kahn Scholarship. The scholarship celebrates Kahn’s passion for aviation and entertainment. Each of our four impressive recipients will receive a $10,000 scholarship to support their education. They will also receive a trip to Washington, DC, to attend the AIAA Awards Gala in May, and an AIAA professional member mentor to help guide each of them on their career paths.

Alexis Andrulonis
Currently attending: Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania
Future School: Georgia Institute of Technology
I have been fascinated by STEM and particularly aerospace for as long as I can remember. From a young age, I learned new topics in mathematics for fun and begged my parents for challenging math problems instead of bedtime stories. Throughout high school, I have become inspired to contribute to our country by gaining knowledge in aerospace and developing skills in leadership through the Civil Air Patrol. In my CAP squadron, I currently teach aerospace classes as the cadet aerospace education leader in addition to my role as flight commander. Last summer, I contributed to satellite-antenna communication technology development during my Lockheed Martin Space Software Engineering internship. My independent high school culminating project was research on Laplace’s equation and a model rocketry experiment with statistical analysis on altimeter flight data. As president of my high school robotics club, I organize and direct students to prepare for FIRST Tech Challenge competitions. I am currently collaborating with a community college professor to develop Python simulations of the three-body problem in orbital mechanics using various systems of nonlinear differential equations of motion and various integration estimation methods.

I plan to begin my B.S. degree in aerospace engineering in fall 2024 at Georgia Institute of Technology. My ultimate career goal is to enhance our national security through contributions to missile detection and missile interception technology. I am forever grateful for my God-given blessings, as well as for the loving support and encouragement provided by my family.

Daisy Li
Currently attending: Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Florida
Future School: Stanford University
I fell in love with space exploration while watching the docking and hatch opening ceremony of Crew Dragon Demo-2. Inspired by the collaborative nature of the space industry, I strive to spearhead the exploration of our cosmos through engineering. At Dreyfoos School of the Arts, I am a violinist in the orchestra and co-president of the Aerospace and Rocketry Club. I enjoy the iterative process of designing, building, and test-launching model rockets at Dyer Park alongside my teammates. However, my most memorable launch of a (full-scale) rocket was SpaceX CRS-27 — the launch of my team’s research experiment to the International Space Station! Through Higher Orbits, I led my teammates to investigate the impacts of microgravity on methanotrophic metabolism for future sustainability applications. During summers, I’ve learned to fly (U.S. Air Force’s Aim High Flight Academy), conducted glaciology fieldwork in Alaska (Girls in Icy Fjords), and volunteered at my local GEMS Club (Girls Excelling in Math and Science).

I am eternally grateful and honored to receive AIAA’s Roger W. Kahn Scholarship. Through the program’s support, I hope to explore the field of engineering and discover further my role in the space industry when I attend Stanford University in the fall and beyond.

Leslie Nava
Currently attending: I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA, Texas
Future School: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
The world of aerospace and aviation was something I never noticed when I was younger, but it moved me in an instant. It opened a new passion within me: to fly planes and understand the objective and structure of an aircraft. I am a student pilot for KCPT Flyers and have been involved with the Ninety-Nines Organization for Women Pilots, the Society for Women Engineers, the TCC Latina STEM Fellowship, the Hispanic Debutante Association, and the North Texas chapter for International Women in Aviation. The world of aviation and engineering has inspired me to pursue the impossible and paved a pathway that permits me to strive through adversity. I am the Senior Class President, Student Government Senator, Student Superintendent for the school district committee, engineering notebook lead, digital designer, and event organizer for my VEX Robotics team. I aspire to grow, advocate, lead, and inspire others in our community. I designed and hosted the first-ever STEM Workshop in my high school, where middle schoolers get hands-on experience with STEM. The feedback I received from peers, teachers, participants, and parents was the reward that motivated me to continue these efforts of expanding the STEM community. I seek to strengthen my ability to create a welcoming environment that permits others to pursue goals that they thought were impossible.

I am committed to pursuing aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where I will continue to build a legacy by expanding my knowledge and experiences. I plan to serve in the Air Force for engineering, work at a professional airline, and study business and political science to create a flight school in Mexico that helps create more innovative leaders in society.

Khue Phan
Currently attending: Kerr High School, Texas
Future School: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
I lived in Saigon, Vietnam, for 13 years before moving to the United States. I developed an interest in engineering, or astrophysics, from a very young age through the fascinating portrayals of Greek mythology and its deep connections with nature, especially the stars in the sky. With such interest, I participated in NASA High School Aerospace Scholars and conducted extensive research to meet the weekly assignments. I also became a NASA Ambassador and Peer Mentor for the same program in my senior year. Besides the burning passion for aerospace engineering, I am also fascinated by areas where engineering and healthcare merge, such as the process of fabricating artificial bones into a patient’s body by implementing the use of 3D printing technology, and was able to join the Electrical and Computer Engineering research team at the University of Houston as part of the NSF Grant.

I plan to pursue Aerospace Engineering at MIT with a potential major in Artificial Intelligence and Decision-Making. I also intend to focus on the Autonomous Systems and Decision-Making research concentration as part of my undergraduate experience under the Autonomy and Embedded Robotics Accelerated lab.

For more information on the Roger W. Kahn Scholarship, please visit aiaa.org/kahnscholarship.

AIAA Foundation Making an Impact: Challenger Center and AIAA Announce 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Awardees

(L to R): Jenn Donais, Sarah Leonard, and Darryl Newhouse, 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award recipients. Credit: Donais/Leonard/Newhouse

AIAA and Challenger Center announce Jenn Donais, Sarah Leonard, and Darryl Newhouse as the winners of the 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. Each teacher and their respective schools will be awarded $5,000. Additionally, each teacher will receive free access to Challenger Center STEM programming, a trip to Washington, D.C., to be honored at the 2024 AIAA Awards Gala, and an invitation to attend a future space launch experience.

In its third year, the award celebrates K-12 teachers who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators. The three winners come from schools across the United States and were selected from nearly 50 nominations. The nominations demonstrate the remarkable efforts teachers make every day to empower underserved and underrepresented students in STEM while using unique strategies, tools, and lessons in and out of the classroom to further energize students.

Each winner can select from Challenger Center’s suite of hands-on, simulated learning experiences based on their classes’ needs. Center Missions, delivered at Challenger Learning Centers around the globe; Virtual Missions, delivered by Challenger Learning Center Flight Directors to students in and out of the classroom; and Classroom Adventures, digital experiences delivered by teachers in their classrooms, bring classroom lessons to life through exciting Earth- and space-themed journeys.

MEET THE 2024 TRAILBLAZING STEM EDUCATOR AWARD WINNERS!

Jenn Donais, STEM Coach at Amesbury Middle School (Amesbury, MA). With 15 years of education experience, Donais prepares students for STEM careers through innovative STEM curricula, immersive STEM days, and career fairs. As an international STEM trainer, she has facilitated professional development sessions in the United Arab Emirates, collaborated with schools nationwide on STEM development, and has contributed to journals and other platforms to improve STEM engagement. In collaboration with Challenger Learning Center at the Christa McAuliffe Center, Framingham State University, Donais founded the Massachusetts Teacher STEM Fair, providing students and teachers with STEM engagement opportunities. She is a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching awardee, Project Lead The Way Lead Launch Teacher, and Google Certified Coach.

Sarah Leonard, Career and Technical Education Department Lead at Redding Middle School (Middletown, DE). As an educator for 12 years, with Project Lead The Way certification, Leonard creates inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students. This school year, Leonard organized STEM Connection Stations for the district’s Education Showcase Night, collaborated with NASA Johnson Space Center to secure the loan of an authentic NASA model for the school, and will be participating in the Civil Air Patrol’s Educator Flight program. She serves as advisor for the National Junior Honor Society and the STEM Connect Club, and she is a member of the Association for Career and Technical Education, AIAA, and Civil Air Patrol. She has been honored with the Delaware STEM Educator Award and 2024 Delaware District 2 VFW Teacher of the Year Award.

Darryl Newhouse, Engineering, Design, Mathematics, and Robotics Teacher at Foshay Learning Center (Los Angeles, CA). For more than 25 years, Newhouse has been igniting students’ passion and building excitement about STEM through robotics and technology. He established an engineering pathway for middle school and high school students, and successfully implemented an academically rigorous program using Project Lead The Way curriculum. As lead coach for the school’s FIRST Robotics team, he emphasizes not only technical skills, but 21st-century skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and team building, as well as community service. Through project-based learning activities, he has made math and science more meaningful to students, preparing underrepresented and disadvantaged youth for postsecondary opportunities and STEM careers.

If you know an amazing K-12 STEM educator who is making a difference with their students and changing the world, consider nominating them for the 2025 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. Nominations open in fall 2024 and more information can be found aiaa.org/trailblazingstemeducatoraward.

AIAA Announcements Special Sessions on Contributions of Historically Marginalized Groups to Aerospace to Be Held at 2025 AIAA SciTech Forum

The AIAA History Committee is soliciting papers for special sessions on the “Contributions of Historically Marginalized Groups to Aerospace.” If any AIAA members are interested in contributing to these sessions and getting published, the History Committee has a mentoring program for first-time authors. In addition to the online tutorial, History Committee members are volunteering to guide, answer questions, and assist in finding research sources for students and Young Professionals.

The AIAA SciTech Forum Call for Papers abstract deadline is 23 May 2024; and the manuscript deadline will be in early December. The forum will take place 6–10 January 2025 in Orlando.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact Kevin Burns, and/or Louis Edelman (louis.m.edelman@nasa.gov), chair of the AIAA SciTech Forum History Track, and Timothy Takahashi (Timothy.Takahashi@asu.edu), chair of the Mentoring Subcommittee.

AIAA Announcements AIAA Draft Standard S-110A Undergoing Public Review

The draft standard AIAA S-110A (revision of AIAA S-110-2005), Space Systems — Structures, Structural Items, and Pressurized Structures, is undergoing public review. The AIAA Structures Committee on Standards is responsible for developing this revised draft standard. The document establishes baseline structural requirements for the design, test, qualification, and acceptance of spaceflight structures and pressurized structures. The committee focused on incorporating requirement updates that result in more verification options and greater flexibility without elevating technical risk, providing clarifications to end users, preventing requirement conflicts with other standards, and addressing missing or unnecessarily restrictive requirements. To obtain a copy for review, please contact Nick Tongson. Public review deadline: 30 April 2024.

AIAA Announcements Design Competitions RFP Window Opened in March

AIAA Design Competitions request for proposal (RFP) submission window is open for members of the technical community interested in creating a design challenge for student submissions. AIAA Design Competitions provide both university students and the university community access to high-quality design experiences that allow students an opportunity to respond to a unique design challenge and gain resume-worthy experience. AIAA encourages the technical community to submit RFPs that address current technical and design challenges and give students an opportunity to meet those challenges. The AIAA Foundation provides prize money for the top 3 teams in each competition. Competitions are available to both graduate and undergraduate students. Submit RFPs online.

Section News YPSE Provides Opportunities for AIAA Members

Young Professionals, Students, and Educators (YPSE) Conference, held by the AIAA Mid-Atlantic Section. Credit: AIAA

From 17 to 18 November 2023, the AIAA Mid-Atlantic Section hosted its annual Young Professionals, Students, and Educators (YPSE) Conference. With over 170 attendees from across the country and over 40 technical presentations, the conference provided opportunities for presenters to expose their current work to others in the industry. In addition to the technical presentations, the event included two distinguished technical and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) keynote speakers, a space exploration themed technical panel, and an Expo Hall where attendees could network with prominent aerospace companies. We look forward to holding YPSE once again at the Kossiakoff Center at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory on 21–22 November 2024.

Section News AIAA Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Sciences Symposium Held in March

DCASS was held in March. Credit: AIAA Dayton-Cincinnati Section

The 49th annual Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Sciences Symposium (DCASS) was held on 5 March, at the Sinclair Ponitz Conference Center in Dayton, OH. DCASS showcases cutting-edge scientific and engineering research and innovations in a one-day event through 200 technical presentations across multiple aspects of aerospace science and technology. The keynote speaker Michael Menzel, Lead Systems Engineer of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), spoke on “The Science and Engineering of the JWST” and he discussed the challenges in design and operation of JWST, and outlined how the two years of operations has reshaped our understanding of space from our solar system to the early universe. For the second year in a row, DCASS held a High School Scholars Session as a continuance of promoting STEM culture in the region and prepare young engineering leaders for future aerospace.

Section News AIAA New England Hosted Early Career “Night with Industry” Event

AIAA New England Section hosted a “Night with Industry” on 12 February. Credit: AIAA New England Section

The AIAA New England Section hosted another “Night with Industry” on 12 February, in collaboration with the AIAA MIT Student Branch and the Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics (WoAA) and Graduate Women in Aerospace Engineering (GWAE) chapters. Undergraduate and graduate students engaged with industry professionals to learn about different engineering fields, organizations, and roles. Students could inquire about careers they were curious about, which would help them make future career decisions. The event also allowed the students to practice professional skills such as relationship building and communication.

First, a panel session was held, where students asked questions in a more formal setting. The panelists included Albert Moussa, Blazetech Corp; Andrew Tenney, Textron Systems; Lana Panasyuk, Draper; Melissa Rowland, Draper; and Hiro Endo, Test Devices, Schenck. The panel event transitioned to a dinner where the panelists hosted tables and students choose who to sit with based on interests and information heard in the earlier discussions.

The event also included an awards ceremony to recognize the AIAA MIT student council leaders who have contributed to the student branch in a variety of officer roles over the past year. Annalisa Weigel, AIAA Board of Trustees Treasurer and a Trustee of the AIAA Foundation, presided over the ceremony and shared her experience with AIAA, including from her student days during which she was the president of the AIAA MIT Student Branch. Both the panel event and the awards ceremony were moderated by Shreyas Hegde (AIAA NE Chair; Pratt & Whitney).

The AIAA MIT team volunteers made a significant contribution. We thank Dinuri Rupasinghe (chair), Mia Tian, Hillel Dei, Isaac Broussard, Mary Foxen, Gabi McDonald, Jorian Benke, Matt Mosqueda, Hailey Polson, and Dashiel DeStefano.

Become a Leader in Your Local Section

Are you looking to serve in a leadership role with AIAA in your local area? AIAA’s 57 sections are undergoing their annual election cycle to recruit new volunteer leaders who will plan events and activities and engage with members at a local level.

Requirements to be considered as a Section Officer:
• Volunteering opportunity only.
• Must be an active AIAA member and located in the United States or Australia where our sections are based.
• Eligible members include all professional member levels, with the exception of high school and university students.
• Time commitment: minimum 2 hours a week of volunteer time.
• Available positions include: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership, STEM K-12, Young Professional, Honors and Awards, Technical Officer, and more.

Reach out to lindsaym@aiaa.org if you are interested and would like to be considered for nomination.

Obituary AIAA Senior Member Glover Died in September 2023

Robert A. Glover, 73, died on 24 September 2023.

He received a B.A. in Physics at the University of Hawaii. While at the University of Hawaii he worked with the telescopes on Mauna Kea. Glover spent most of his career in the aerospace industry, working for Logicon, GRC, and AT&T on numerous government projects. He served as a member of the AIAA Astrodynamics Technical Committee (1992–1999; 2002–2014) as well as technical chair.

Obituary AIAA Senior Member Restrepo Died in February 2024

Carolina Restrepo. Credit: Restrepo Family

Carolina Restrepo died 24 February. She was 41 years old.

Restrepo completed her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University. She began her NASA career as an intern in 2003 as part of the NASA Co-Op program at NASA Johnson Space Center.

In 2009, she began working full-time with the Crewed Exploration Vehicle, which would later become Orion. Restrepo focused on analyzing the different abortion trajectories, specifically on how to automate the process to identify the parameters that could lead to failures in the different trajectories.

For three years at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Restrepo and her team worked on Autonomous Landing Risk Prevention Technology (ALHAT), a project to help land on different planetary bodies. Using a prototype lunar landing module called Morpheus, they performed different tests at NASA Kennedy Space Center. Returning to NASA Johnson, she joined Orion’s orbit team. After a year, Restrepo joined COBALT, which aimed to improve autonomous precision landings.

Moving to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as an aerospace engineer in the Navigation and Mission Design Branch, Restrepo began working on descents and landings beyond Earth with LuNaMaps. She focused on navigation for landing at the South Pole of the moon, within the framework of the crewed Artemis missions. She was developing the processes to build the reference maps that future instruments on board the lunar landing module can use to guide the ship and circumvent dangers during the descent.

Restrepo actively served in AIAA, including as an author, presenter, reviewer, and organizer of the GNC Graduate Student Paper Competition. She was a member of the Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technical Committee from 2019 to 2023. She had also been a member of the Society and Aerospace Technology Technical Committee (2012–2015).

Obituary AIAA Fellow Truly Died in February 2024

Richard H. Truly. Credit: Truly Family

Richard H. Truly, a naval aviator, test pilot and astronaut who served as NASA Administrator, died on 27 February. He was 86.

He received a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Georgia Tech (1959), which he attended on a Navy ROTC scholarship. After joining the Navy he attended flight school and was designated a naval aviator in 1960. His initial tour of duty was aboard USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise, and he made more than 300 carrier landings. From 1963 to 1965, he was a student and then instructor at the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School.

Truly became one of the first military astronauts selected to the Air Force’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory program in 1965, before he transferred to NASA as an astronaut in August 1969. He served as capsule communicator for all three Skylab missions in 1973, and the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.

He flew one of the two-astronaut crews for the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests in 1977, before serving as pilot on STS-2 on Space Shuttle Columbia – the first piloted spacecraft to be reflown in space. Truly was also commander of STS-8 on Space Shuttle Challenger, the first night launch and landing in the Shuttle program. He left NASA after STS-8 to serve as the first commander of the Naval Space Command, which oversaw the Navy’s surveillance and communications satellites.

Truly returned to NASA as Associate Administrator for Space Flight three weeks after the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to rebuild the Space Shuttle program, overseeing the $2 billion repair and redesign project. Truly then served as NASA’s eighth Administrator from February 1989 to February 1992. He oversaw a total of 20 Space Shuttle missions as associate administrator and administrator.

After leaving NASA, Truly became Vice President and Director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute at Georgia Tech. He also served as director of the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and as executive vice president of the MRIGlobal.

Truly was recognized for his work with many awards including the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals and two NASA Space Flight Medals. He also received the Robert J. Collier Trophy (1982, 1989), the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy (1982, 1989), the Society of Experimental Test Pilot’s Ivan C. Kincheloe Award (1978) and James H. Doolittle Award (1988). AIAA honored him with the AIAA Haley Space Flight Award (1980).