Each year, AIAA distributes over $100,000 in scholarships and graduate awards to undergraduate and graduate students studying aerospace engineering at accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States and overseas. In 2022, AIAA scholarship and graduate award winners came from all corners of the aerospace industry and are studying a variety of topics from digital avionics to hypersonics. Below, we profile this year’s 25 scholarship and graduate award winners who are shaping the future of aerospace.
Neil Armstrong Graduate Award
Michelle Lin
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Amount of Award: $5,000
Michelle is an AeroAstro Ph.D. student at MIT studying human behavioral health in Isolated, Confined, and Extreme environments. They are passionate about investigating the relationship between the human and the built environment in space, and creating functionally aesthetic architecture for a home away from home. After their Ph.D., Michelle hopes to continue studying how humans respond to stressful environments, how we can support them, and how those learnings can be translated to urban and refugee housing to improve housing equity. Michelle challenges and empowers their communities to be more inclusive and just, especially for the most marginalized populations. Michelle hopes to one day make it to Mars and live in a habitat they design.
Neil Armstrong’s legacy has inspired countless across generations. I hope, even to a fraction of that legacy, to inspire those who don’t see themselves represented in space exploration yet — and see that a young, nonbinary, queer immigrant is fighting for an inclusive, just, and accessible space future.
Orville and Wilbur Wright Graduate Awards
Shashank Maurya
University of Maryland – College Park
Amount of Award: $5,000
Shashank is a graduate student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland. He has been working on Aeromechanics Testing and Analysis of High-Speed Compound Rotorcraft under the direction of Drs. Inderjit Chopra and Anubhav Datta at Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center. His current goal is to conduct wind tunnel tests on a full compound configuration with an asymmetric wing and propeller added to the helicopter. This is a unique configuration, and it will be interesting to see the viability of such rotorcraft. The emergence of eVTOL technology has significantly boosted his interest in rotorcraft and his career goal is to work on the design and aeromechanics of eVTOLs and be a leader in this industry.
I sincerely thank AIAA for this graduate award. Recognition from such a prestigious organization is motivating and will push me further to continue my graduate research with full effort. Ph.D. research is a long journey, and things are not always smooth. Therefore, support from AIAA pushes me to go the extra mile.
Abinash Sahoo
North Carolina State University
Amount of Award: $5,000
Abinash is a Ph.D. research scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University. He works with Dr. Venkateswaran Narayanaswamy and Dr. Kevin M. Lyons in the field of combustion, high-speed flows, laser diagnostics, and atomic spectroscopy. The focus of his research is to develop diagnostic tools for 2-D temperature and species composition measurement in turbulent flames and use them to understand the combustion dynamics of ultra-clean flameless oxidation (FLOX) or the MILD (moderate or intense low oxygen dilution) combustion process. Abinash loves physics and engineering and dreams of being a good researcher and an effective science communicator. In the future, he aspires to become a faculty in a university and pursue his passion for research and teaching.
I am deeply honored to receive this award. This award inspires me to pursue my passion for research in the aerospace and energy sciences field and also boosts my confidence. This award is a reflection of all the hard work since my freshman year in aerospace engineering and is a big motivation for my future career.
Dr. Hassan A. Hassan Graduate Award in Aerospace Engineering
Brigid Donohue
North Carolina State University
Amount of Award: $5,000
Brigid is currently in school working toward a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on spacecraft systems and dynamics. She went into college undecided, but then saw Aerospace Engineering on the list of majors and hasn’t looked back since. Brigid has been passionate about space exploration since she saw her first Space Shuttle launch as a kid and aspires to work in that field on innovative missions in space. She is also passionate about environmental science and astrophysics and the incorporation of those disciplines into space missions.
I am honored to have been granted this award. Receiving this award will provide funds for my education and give me the ability to focus on school and research. Achieving my degree will allow me to expand my knowledge and gain research experience to apply toward my future goals in space exploration.
Dr. Hassan A. Hassan Graduate Award in Aerospace Engineering
John Parrish
North Carolina State University
Amount of Award: $5,000
John is a prospective aerospace engineering graduate student at NC State University and is originally from Pikeville, NC. While at NC State University, he completed his undergraduate degree in the same field while conducting undergraduate research. He is also a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force who will attend Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) after completing his graduate degree. He hopes to apply his understanding of aerodynamics and cavity acoustics to flight testing.
I have a short amount of time before I must report for pilot training. During that time, I also do not earn any pay. The Dr. Hassan A. Hassan will allow me to focus more of my time and energy toward completing my graduate degree in the little time I have, while allowing me to conduct thorough research.
Luis de Florez Graduate Award
Aashutosh Mishra
Auburn University
Amount of Award: $3,500
Aashutosh is a doctoral student at Auburn University, currently working in the design, numerical modeling, and simulation of novel aircraft configurations, including urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles. He completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tribhuvan University in Nepal and joined Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Lab (VSDDL) at Auburn University to further pursue his interests in aircraft aerospace engineering as a graduate student. He aims to develop a unified vehicle design and simulation framework that incorporates assessment of aircraft stability and control in the design iteration, and in the next step, a real-time flight simulation of the developed concept can be carried out to better understand the dynamic behavior of the vehicle during flight.
It is an honor for me to get recognized for the work I have been conducting in the field of UAM vehicle model development, and I feel inspired to contribute to the best of my abilities towards connecting the gap between a conceptual design and the actual flight through real-time flight simulation studies.
Guidance, Navigation and Control Graduate Award
Damien Gueho
Pennsylvania State University
Amount of Award: $2,500
Damien is an aerospace engineer and a Ph.D. candidate in the CASS Lab in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. He graduated from Centrale Lyon, France, in 2019 with an engineering degree and is currently working with Prof. Puneet Singla and Dr. Robert Melton at Penn State. His research focuses on a wide range of topics in data-driven analysis of dynamical systems, with particular interests for high-dimensional and complex dynamical systems, data-driven system identification, reduced-order modeling, stochastic analysis, uncertainty quantification and data-driven control. Damien wants to devote his professional life to the pursuit of novel research in the areas of data-driven analysis of complex dynamical systems, especially for space, air, or robotics applications.
I am immensely proud and would like to thank all the people — colleagues, family and friends — who have worked with me and supported me. I’ve found myself facing tough problems in the field of GNC and it has helped me develop a rigorous and analytical mind, studying some of the most challenging projects in engineering.
Liquid Propulsion TC Graduate Award
Tengjie Gao
Florida Institute of Technology
Amount of Scholarship: $2,500
Tengjie is an achievement-oriented doctoral researcher in the Aerospace Systems and Propulsion Laboratory (ASAP) at Florida Institute of Technology. As an interdisciplinary problem-solver and creative talent, he introduced the machine learning techniques to spacecraft propellant slosh analysis and implemented the techniques for modeling and optimization. Tengjie and his supervisors provided the lab industrial partners and technical community with a novel methodology of propellant slosh modeling for diaphragm tanks. He has also served the university as academic grader and college role tutor of aerospace engineering core courses. Tengjie’s career goal is to become a leading researcher of his field of interest, leverage the wealth of knowledge and experience to support ambitious space programs, and to become one of the outstanding examples of an American Dream practitioner.
By awarding me this scholarship, I can continue the pathway to explore the knowledge of my field of interest related to liquid propulsion technology, and the expertise developed in the course of my research supported by this award may also become a valuable asset to the continued success of American space industry.
John Leland Atwood Graduate Award
Javier Viana
University of Cincinnati
Amount of Award: $1,250
Javier is a Ph.D. candidate in Explainable Artificial Intelligence at the Aerospace Engineering Department of the University of Cincinnati. His research focuses on creating novel transparent and high performing algorithms. He is currently doing research at MIT, where he designs deep neural network architectures to automate the characterization of polluted white dwarfs. Previously, Javier developed tailored AI solutions for different aerospace organizations such as Aurora, Boeing, Satlantis Microsatellites, NASA, ESA, Genexia, and CVG Airport. He has a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the Basque Country, and Master’s in Aerospace Engineering from the UC. His main research topics and interest include transparency in AI, deep fuzzy networks, genetic fuzzy systems, bio-inspired evolutionary optimization, and intelligent control.
Through this award I intend to raise awareness on the importance of Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Aerospace Engineering applications.
Martin Summerfield Propellants and Combustion Graduate Award
Hongyuan Zhang
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Amount of Award: $1,250
Hongyuan is a fourth-year Ph.D. student working under the supervision of Professor Suo Yang in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He obtained his B.S.in theoretical and applied mechanics at Peking University, Beijing, China. He is passionate about multiphase compressible flows, turbulent combustion modeling, machine learning, and high-performance computing. His current research involves the simulation of multi-component transcritical flow. After graduation, he plans to look for a postdoctoral position and spend 1–2 years focusing on combustion and turbulence research. At the end of the postdoctoral period, he plans to look for a faculty position in a university to continue his research and start his teaching career.
This award is an acknowledgment of the efforts I have made in the past, and it will encourage me to continue and finish my work. I hope my work on developing high-fidelity CFD solvers based on vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) theory can provide a new tool to investigate transcritical flows and combustion.
Gordon C. Oates Air Breathing Propulsion Graduate Award
Rishi Roy
University of Maryland – College Park
Amount of Award: $1,000
Rishi is a doctoral candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research primarily focuses on low-emission combustion using experimental diagnostics and artificial intelligence for propulsion and power generation. His experimental skills involve imaging (high and low-speed) of reacting flow fields, laser-based optical measurements, and gas analysis. Besides experiments he develops machine learning and computer vision models for parameter predictions in combustion for developing data-driven sensing techniques and autonomous experimental facilities. His interest lies in integrating data analytics to advance fundamental research in energy systems. He has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed journals and conference articles in the field of combustion, heat transfer, and artificial intelligence areas. Besides combustion, he is interested in battery electric propulsion, and autonomous systems.
This is a huge honor for me to receive such a prestigious award from AIAA. My current research is trying to address some of the vital questions about developing efficient, near-zero-emission propulsion systems. This award will strongly encourage me to further contribute to the field of aerospace propulsion.
William T. Piper, Sr. General Aviation Systems Graduate Award
Michael S. Harwin
Florida Institute of Technology
Amount of Award: $1,000
Michael is an airline pilot employed by United Airlines and a part-time Boeing 737 simulator instructor employed by Swift Airways and International Aviation Services (IAS). He started his career at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he obtained two Bachelor of Science degrees, the first in Aeronautical Science and the second in Airway Science. Michael obtained two Master’s Degrees, one from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aeronautics and a second from Florida Institute of Technology in Aviation Human Factors. He was admitted to candidacy for a Doctorate in Philosophy in Aviation Sciences at Florida Institute of Technology. He plans to use his education to perform studies to enhance safety in the aviation industry.
Your achievements are only limited by what you are willing to do.
AIAA Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship (New this year)
Julianna Schneider
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Amount of Scholarship: $10,000
Julianna is a U.S. Presidential Scholar, National Merit Scholar, Congressional App Challenge Winner, and FTC Dean’s List Finalist. She led three FIRST robotics teams to win state, regional, and international awards and a team of NASA interns to publish research with the American Geophysical Union. Julianna created VoluntYOU, an award-winning, 501(c)(3)-backed digital platform that connects 500+ users to volunteering opportunities globally. She mentors NASA summer programs, Science Olympiad, and FIRST robotics programs. She conducts research on improving human-robot collaboration using a pipeline of machine learning models. Julianna is an incoming freshman at MIT who will major in AI & Decision Making. She aspires to earn a graduate degree and develop novel AI architectures that improve autonomous navigation systems throughout her career as an AI engineer.
I am thrilled to be selected as 2022 AIAA Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship recipient. This recognition not only provides financial support, but opens up new career pathways in the aerospace defense industry through which I can pursue AI engineering for application in unmanned aerial vehicles and robotics.
AIAA Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship (New this year)
Penélope Nieves-Colon
University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Amount of Scholarship: $10,000
Penelope is a rising junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. Her plan is to continue studying after graduating with her bachelor’s, to obtain a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, with a minor in Astronautics. Having an immense interest in outer space from an early age, she plans to pursue a career in the aerospace industry, working with the development of rocketry technologies and space travel.
Receiving this award and being able to represent AIAA as well as Marillyn Hewson’s legacy is a great honor for me. The AIAA Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship will greatly enable me to pursue my dream of becoming an aerospace engineer and help develop the industry. I am profoundly grateful for all the support!
Daedalus 88 Scholarship
Rebecca Gilligan
University of Cincinnati
Amount of Scholarship: $10,000
Rebecca is pursuing a B.S. and M.S. simultaneously in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. She loves that engineering always presents opportunity to learn. FIRST Robotics helped Rebecca find her passion in engineering. She started a series of STEM summer camps in high school and now mentors a FIRST team. Rebecca is an Undergraduate Student Researcher at the UAV MASTER Lab, where she focuses on unmanned aerial vehicles and robotics research. She will be presenting her research project All-Terrain Aerial Robotic Interface (ATARI) at AIAA SciTech Forum. NASA’s Mars program inspires her, and the challenge of space exploration fuels her excitement in robotics and engineering. Rebecca’s dream is to work on autonomous vehicles research for the Mars program at NASA JPL.
I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to college and began working when I was 14 to afford it. Since then, I discovered robotics and UAVs as my passion and my way to leave an impact. This scholarship is providing me the opportunity to continue pursuing my education and get one step closer to achieving my dreams.
David and Catherine Thompson Space Technology Scholarship
Kaila Coimbra
California Institute of Technology
Amount of Scholarship: $10,000
Kaila is a rising senior at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) studying mechanical engineering and minoring in aerospace. After graduation, she will pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering. With a doctoral degree, she plans on working in the space industry to advance space technology. Kaila is especially interested in developing technology that will advance NASA’s goal of creating a sustained human presence on the moon. Because of her interest in the moon, she also aspires to become a NASA astronaut and personally conduct scientific experiments on future lunar bases. Ultimately, her main goal is to leverage her career and experience as a woman in engineering to inspire the next generation of female engineers and scientists.
I am very grateful for this scholarship and for its role in supporting my education and my goal of becoming a future aerospace professional. This scholarship validates my work as an aspiring aerospace enthusiast and gives me confidence in continuing to develop space technology for extended human presence on the moon.
Vicki and George Muellner Scholarship for Aerospace Engineering
Michael Esry
Purdue University
Amount of Scholarship: $5,000
Michael is currently a senior at Purdue University studying Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering with a specialization in Astrodynamics. He has served as the president of a fully student-run robotics team called Purdue Lunabotics. Outside of school, Michael has participated in the NASA Pathways Internship Co-op Program, spending alternating semesters working at the Johnson Space Center. Through this program, he has had the opportunity to support many different projects from the Commercial Crew program and International Space Station operations to trajectory design and orbit planning for the Artemis missions. After continuing his education to earn a masters degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Michael hopes to return to the Johnson Space Center to become a flight controller with the Flight Dynamics Officers and further space exploration.
I am currently funding the entirety of my education. Even with my co-op internship, it can be a challenge to afford tuition each semester. By being selected for the Vicki and George Muellner Scholarship, I am now able to pay for my final year of my degree and continue pursuing my dream to become an aerospace engineer.
Wernher von Braun Scholarship
Satvik Kumar
Georgia Institute of Technology
Amount of Scholarship: $5,000
Satvik has been fascinated with airplanes since childhood. This fascination stemmed from his yearly trips to India. His friends have always referred to him as the plane nerd. He’s known that he wanted to study Aerospace Engineering since 5th grade! As he got older, he started to develop an interest in rocketry, space exploration, and vertical flight as well. He’s been conducting research throughout his time at Georgia Tech as well as through his internships at NASA Ames Research Center and NASA Langley Research Center. His goal is to contribute to the aerospace field by continuing to be involved in groundbreaking research. To accomplish this, Satvik plans on attending graduate school following his undergraduate degree.
I am honored and grateful to be chosen again for the Wernher von Braun Scholarship. This recognition gives me lots of inspiration and motivation to spread my wings in unexplored aerospace research and to make a difference in the aerospace field.
Cary Spitzer Digital Avionics Scholarship
Jesus Delgado
Florida Institute of Technology
Amount of Scholarship: $3,000
Jesus is an undergraduate aerospace engineer student at Florida Tech. He joined AIAA in the fall 2021 semester and currently participates in student design teams like DBF and the Spaceport America Cup. He want to be part of a motivated group of professionals who create solutions to many of the problems we face today. His career goals consist of contributing to the future of space exploration and working on habitable space station technologies. Jesus wants to achieve a Senior Engineer position at an industry-leading aerospace company while being an active member of the aerospace community and encouraging STEM education for the next generation of scientists and engineers.
This scholarship is a blessing to my family and me because it relieves so much of the financial pressures of paying for college. It is also a great source of positive motivation to strive for success in the aerospace field and keep collecting the skills necessary to become a successful future professional.
Dr. Amy R. Pritchett Digital Avionics Scholarship
Adam Hale
Brigham Young University
Amount of Scholarship: $3,000
Aviation has always been Adam’s passion. He spent years perusing piloting before deciding to build planes, not just fly them. Now he is a mechanical engineering student with an aeronautical emphasis at Brigham Young University. His interest in aerospace has led him to become president of his university’s aeronautics club as well as to work in research designing aerial platforms which assist in developing navigation and control algorithms. Upon graduation, Adam hopes to work in structural design of fixed-wing aircraft in industry while pursuing a technical masters. As an upcoming engineer, he loves solving the world’s most complex problems and he aspires someday to play a major role in developing technology that will impact the lives of others through aviation.
I am extremely grateful for the assistance being provided to me. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to focus on my passion for all things aerospace and prepare for life post-graduation. I look forward to being able to contribute to the field of aeronautics both now and in the future.
Dr. James Rankin Digital Avionics Scholarship
Patrick Bailey
University of South Carolina
Amount of Scholarship: $3,000
Patrick is currently majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on aeromechanical systems at the University of South Carolina. Alongside his studies, he is pursuing research in composites and additive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing, carbon fiber layups, and a process called “Cold Spray.” After graduating, he plans to pursue a masters in aerospace engineering followed by continuing his research and pursuing his PhD in the field of aerospace or material science. After his Ph.D., Patrick would love work in the space or hypersonics industry sectors to best apply his knowledge, and one day maybe start his own aerospace company/firm.
I am very thankful for being able to receive this scholarship because it will help to fund my education and relieves my financial burden. I can now pursue higher education to become more prepared for undertaking industry jobs and exploring my passions.
Ellis F. Hitt Digital Avionics Scholarship
Justin Self
California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
Amount of Scholarship: $3,000
In 2021, Justin graduated from Cuesta Community College with High Honors with transfer degrees in mathematics and physics while earning multiple scholarships and was awarded the 2021 Engineering and Physics Student of the Year awards. While pursuing his undergrad in Aerospace Engineering at Cal Poly, Justin is the lead researcher on an upper-atmospheric hypersonic project and has presented at several conferences. Justin plans to work with NASA on spacecraft design and mission concepts for planetary exploration and/or next-gen propulsion research. Justin, his wife Jenny, and their two sons Caleb and Joel, live in Morro Bay, CA. Justin and his family enjoy hiking and playing strategy games together. Justin also maintains a blog, a podcast, and has recently published his first book, Face to Face (2021).
I am tremendously thankful to the scholarship committee and the organizers of the Ellis F. Hitt Digital Avionics Scholarship for their consideration. These award funds provide not only a resource for my academic career, but a valuable and timely blessing to my family and me. We are overwhelmed by your generosity!
Denise Ponchak Digital Avionics Scholarship
Sanjay Kuruchanvalasu Jambulingam
SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Amount of Scholarship: $3,000
Sanjay is an aerospace engineer with a key interest in flight dynamics and aerospace propulsion. He is working on the flight dynamics of UAVs and his research area includes flow control methods for aerodynamic bodies and aerothermodynamics. His aim is to work on the new generation aircrafts and contribute his learnings toward the development of aerospace technology.
AIAA has provided me with a lot of opportunities. Earlier, I have participated in various student competitions provided by them. Now, Denise Ponchak Digital Avionics Scholarship provided great support to my undergraduate studies. Through this, I can further venture into my career goals without any economical barriers.
Space Transportation Scholarship
Rebecca Zurek
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University–Daytona Beach, FL
Amount of Scholarship: $1,500
Rebecca is a sophomore at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University–Daytona Beach, Florida, studying Aerospace Engineering. Rebecca has always been fascinated with space and innovation, and thrives on introducing young people to aerospace possibilities. Rebecca became the ERAU AIAA Outreach Chairperson, and is the Project Lead for Embry-Riddle’s supersonic recovery systems research/development project, Project Zephyr. Rebecca will use her education and research to further the functionality and efficiency of space travel, particularly focusing on Mars and outer planets with a potential for life, security, and commerce. Currently, Rebecca works as an intern at Electra.aero designing and building electric aircraft to create more sustainable and efficient air transportation in the future. She aspires to further a world where the sky is not the limit, only the beginning.
I’m grateful for this award that enables me to continue my goal of becoming an Aerospace Engineer; developing new technologies that positively shape the future of aerospace. This scholarship enables me to continue my education, research, and passion, and prove that the sky is not the limit, only the beginning.
Leatrice Gregory Pendray Scholarship
Eszter Anna Varga
Virginia Tech
Amount of Scholarship: $1,250
Eszter is a rising senior in Aerospace Engineering at Virginia Tech, and will become the first-ever Hungarian Female Aerospace Engineer. She is a mentor and member of the New York Academy of Sciences and president of the Sigma Gamma Tau chapter. She participates in various organizations and clubs, and she also works at a makerspace. In her free time, she writes her own blog and runs a small business selling laser-cut builds. She aspires to be an aerospace engineer who promotes the importance of females in STEM and actively acts as a field advocate.
Another step in proving that you can be something you never saw. Hungary has no translation for aerospace engineering, and I will most likely be the First Hungarian Female Aerospace Engineer. Opportunities such as the scholarship allow me to continue on this path and dream.
Applications for the 2023 scholarships are being accepted from 1 October to 31 January. For more information, please visit aiaa.org/get-involved or contact Michael Lagana at scholarships@aiaa.org.
AIAA and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) have announced that Robert D. Braun, Space Exploration Sector Head at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship in Aerospace Engineering. Braun will present his lecture, “Are We Alone? Grand Challenges in Solar System Exploration,” on 4 October 2022, in conjunction with the NAE Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
This lecture will discuss the search for signs of past or present life beyond Earth, a profound human endeavor that has occupied a place in our consciousness since humans first looked skyward. This quest requires an advance in space exploration capabilities, technologies, and knowledge that also informs our future on our home planet and the pace of human exploration beyond it. After decades of hard work, and through an interconnected set of missions, NASA stands poised to address this timeless question along multiple arcs. Braun will describe the scientific opportunities, locales, technologies, and missions from which we may advance our understanding of the potential for life elsewhere in the universe. The goals and present status of multiple astrobiology missions planned for the next decade will be highlighted.
Braun has more than 35 years of experience as a space systems engineer, technologist, and organizational leader. He has contributed to the formulation, development, and operation of multiple space flight missions and is a recognized authority in hypersonics technology and the development of entry, descent, and landing systems. Braun previously served as Director for Planetary Science at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2020–2022), Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder (2017–2020), a faculty member of the Georgia Institute of Technology (2003–2016) and a member of the technical staff of NASA Langley Research Center (1989–2003). He has served as a tenured professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Colorado Boulder, and California Institute of Technology. Braun is a member of the NAE as well as a Fellow of AIAA and the American Astronomical Society. He is the author or co-author of over 300 technical publications.
AIAA, with the participation and support of NAE, created the the lectureship to honor 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.
Registration for this lecture is free and open to the public.
In July the AIAA Los Angeles-Las Vegas (LA-LV) Section had an exhibition table at the Aerospace Summer Games, a fun, family-friendly event in Los Angeles organized for aerospace company professionals to compete in beach sport events. Courtney Best (with hat), LA-LV Young Professionals/Early Career Professionals Chair, greeted visitors to the table and introduced AIAA and the LA-LV Section to them. The visitors got to know about the Institute and membership while viewing the displayed models, receiving the cool promotional items, and chatting about aerospace news.
On 4 June, the AIAA San Diego Section held its annual awards gala for the first time in two years since the start of Covid restrictions. This annual event serves to install the new section officers, present the Reuben H. Fleet scholarship winners, and recognize local section and aerospace community award winners. The event was held at the Allen Airways Museum at Gillespie Field Airport in El Cajon. Guests had the opportunity to view the entire museum collection, including the historic aircraft, aerospace artifacts, and art during the cocktail reception. Dinner included an impromptu biplane flyby and was followed by scholarship and awards presentations. The section thanks AIAA headquarters, Allen Airways, and our local community for supporting such a wonderful event!
The Technical Activities Division (TAD) and Integration and Outreach Division (IOD) work diligently with their committee chairs to maintain a reasonable balance in 1) appropriate representation to the field from industry, research, education, and government; 2) the specialties covered in the specific TC/IOC scopes; and 3) geographical distribution relative to the area’s technical activity. TAD and IOD encourage applications of young professionals (those individuals 35 years and younger). Committees have a 50-person maximum unless approval is granted to exceed that limit. Applicants selected for membership who are not AIAA members in good standing must become members or renew their membership within 45 days of start of the membership term (1 May–30 April). If you currently serve on a TC/IOC, you will automatically be considered for the 2023/2024 membership term. Applications are submitted online. The form can be found on the AIAA website at aiaa.org, under My AIAA, Nominations and Voting, Technical Committee Online Application. Applications are due by 12 October 2022. Information about the committees can be found at:
• Integration and Outreach Committees
• Technical Committees
The AIAA Society and Aerospace Technology Outreach Committee (SAT OC) has been actively engaged in reviewing submitted abstracts for the 2023 AIAA SciTech Forum. We are delighted by the interest in our sessions and envision having a few tracks. Interested parties are encouraged to look for sessions beginning with the “SAT” prefix in the AIAA SciTech program.
During AIAA forums, the committee regularly calls for papers that examine the societal benefits of aerospace technologies/products, as well as the relationship between aerospace and society, culture, and the arts. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Group Dynamics & Societal Institutions in Isolated Communities (space settlements, Antarctica)
• Influences of Aerospace Technology on Popular Culture (art, literature, movies/TV, & music)
• Influences of Popular Culture on Aerospace Technology (i.e., science fiction as inspiration for R&D)
• Psychology, Social Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, and Political Science Aspects of Aerospace
• Societal Consequences of United States and/or International Aerospace Policy
• Societal Impacts of Aerospace Technology and their Spin-Offs
• Societal Issues Involving the Use of Aerospace Technologies (UAS, satellite imagery, etc.)
• Sociology and Social Psychology of Aerospace Teams
• Other Topics in Society and Aerospace Technology
This committee welcomes collaboration with AIAA technical committees and other working groups and outreach committees specifically concerning the listed areas of interest.
SAT OC Spotlight
We are spotlighting AIAA Associate Fellow Michelle Rouch this month. Michelle has been a SAT OC member since 2015. An engineer, illustrator, and renowned professional artist, she enjoys dedicating quality time and getting kids excited about the technical world through various STEM outreach activities. With over 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry, she has led many SAT OC arts-related efforts. In her artwork Michelle seeks to capture the emotions of people living and working in a thriving rich aerospace world on Earth and beyond. She published her first children’s book, Astronaut Al Travel to the Moon, with author and Apollo 15 Astronaut Alfred Worden, winning a 2021 Mom’s Choice Award and a 2021 Purple Dragonfly Children’s Book Award. SAT OC celebrates the success of its membership and individuals such as Michelle for their dedication, skillsets, motivation, and contributions to a better future society.
Diversity Corner*
Name: Kristina J. Halona
Notable Contributions: Kristina is an aerospace engineer and program manager, Antares Systems Engineering, at Northrop Grumman in Chandler, AZ. She received a B.S.E. degree in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University and an M.S.E. degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University. Kristina is originally from Sawmill, AZ, on the Navajo Reservation. She is of the Black Streak Wood People Clan born for the Folded Arms People Clan. The Bitter Water Clan is her maternal grandfather’s clan and the Salt Clan is her paternal grandfather’s clan.
Potential Societal Impact of Contributions: Kristina has been an American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) member since middle school competing in AISES science fairs, which led to AISES scholarships, internships, and leadership opportunities like serving as the AISES National Student Representative. As a professional and a Sequoyah Fellow she has been part of the AISES Professional Chapters in the Bay Area, Tucson, and Phoenix and is currently the Phoenix Professional Chapter Vice President. Kristina also currently serves on the AISES Board of Directors.
*In collaboration with the AIAA Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and Claudine Phaire, SAT OC is highlighting prominent members of the wider aerospace community in the Diversity Corner.
