The National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) newly elected Class of 2025 includes nine AIAA members, who have advanced the field of aerospace and astronautics in academia, government, and the commercial sector.
Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions in at least one of the following categories: engineering practice, research, or education; pioneering of new and developing fields of technology; major advancements in traditional fields of engineering; or development/implementation of innovative approaches to engineering education or engineering leadership of one or more major endeavors.
AIAA CEO Clay Mowry applauded the honorees, stating, “We are proud to recognize these remarkable engineering leaders in the AIAA community for their career-long contributions advancing what’s possible. They embody our shared ideals of technical excellence and innovative pursuits in aerospace. Their impact will continue to be felt for years to come.”
The new NAE members include:
- AIAA Fellow Rodney Bowersox, associate dean for research and Ford I Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, for leadership and contributions in hypersonic aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics through the development of experimental facilities and diagnostic techniques.
- AIAA Member Victoria Coleman, chief executive officer and head, North America Research & Technology, Acubed, Sunnyvale, Calif., for innovations in software operations related to national and cybersecurity and consumer electronics.
- AIAA Fellow Marillyn A. Hewson, chairman, president, and chief executive officer (retired), Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Md., for developing and delivering breakthrough innovations and technology programs of critical importance to global security and space exploration.
- AIAA Fellow Wayne R. Johnson, researcher, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., for contributions to rotorcraft comprehensive analysis, tiltrotor aircraft development, emerging electric aircraft, and the Mars Helicopter development.
- AIAA Honorary Fellow Hitoshi Kuninaka, director general, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Sagamihara, for his accomplishments in electric propulsion for spacecraft and for the Hayabusa2 asteroid sample return mission.
- AIAA Fellow Alison Nordt, director, Space Science and Instrumentation, Advanced Technology Center, Lockheed Martin Corp., Palo Alto, Calif., for contributions to aerospace and space science through developing novel instruments and space missions and extending understanding of the universe.
- AIAA Fellow Mary M. Roybal, senior principal engineering fellow (retired), Raytheon, Tucson, Ariz., for contributions to the structural integrity and producibility of some of the world’s most advanced missile systems.
- AIAA Fellow Hanspeter Schaub, distinguished professor, Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, for his contributions to the control of satellite formations and relative orientations utilizing natural forces, including the use of electrostatics.
- AIAA Fellow John C. Vassberg, chief design officer, JetZero, Long Beach, Calif., for advancing aircraft capabilities and efficiency through inventions, developments, and applications of aerodynamic technologies, computational methods, and experimental validations.
