The Council Nominating Committee has selected candidates for next year’s openings on the AIAA Council of Directors. Council Nominating Committee Chair Laura Richard and AIAA Governance and Executive Operations Administrator Susan Silva confirmed the names of the candidates who will appear on the 2026 ballot.
Integration and Outreach Activities Division
Director – International Activities Group
- Luisella Giulicchi, European Space Agency (ESA)
- Thomas Sebastian, MIT
Director-Elect – Young Professional Group
- Sofia Franco Castro, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
- Stephen Clark, The Boeing Company
Regional Engagement Activities Division
Director – Region I
- Kyle Zittle, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Director – Region II
- Chris Crumbly, Auburn University
- Kevin Johnson, Blue Origin LLC
Director – Region VII
- Björn Nagel, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Technical Activities Division
Director – Aircraft Technology, Integration & Operations Group
- David R. Maroney, MITRE (Retired)
- Gabriele Enea, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Director – Space and Missiles Group
- Stephen Blanchette, The Aerospace Corporation
The 2026 AIAA Election will be held 26 January–20 February 2026.
