AIAA is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the AIAA Premier Awards, recognizing
the most influential and inspiring individuals in aerospace whose outstanding
contributions merit the highest accolades. The awards will be presented during the AIAA
Awards Gala on Wednesday, 30 April, at the Washington Hilton, Washington, DC. The
Institute also will recognize its Class of 2025 Honorary Fellows and Fellows at the AIAA
Awards Gala. The winners are:
AIAA Goddard Astronautics Award
Jeffrey P. Bezos, Founder,
Blue Origin “For visionary leadership in moving us toward a future where millions of
people are living and working in space for the benefit of humanity.”
AIAA Reed Aeronautics Award
Vigor Yang, Ralph N. Read Chair and Regents’ Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of
Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology “For seminal contributions to the
understanding of combustion physics in aerospace systems, to technological innovation in
aerospace propulsion, and to the advancement of aerospace engineering education and
literature.”
AIAA Distinguished Service Award
Basil Hassan, Director, Engineering Sciences Center, Sandia National Laboratories “For
more than three decades of exemplary service at the national, technical, and regional levels,
as well as with Publications, Honors and Awards, and the AIAA Foundation.”
AIAA Engineer of the Year Award
Christopher John Ruscher, Vice President and Senior Research Engineer, Spectral Energies, LLC “For the design, development, integration, and demonstration of a robust pressure sensor on a hypersonic sounding rocket and F404 engine test.”
AIAA International Cooperation Award
Hitoshi Kuninaka, Director General, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and Vice President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) “For fundamental contributions to electric propulsion and leadership of the world’s first asteroid sample return missions, as well as for fostering international cooperation and public interest in space exploration.”
AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award
Gökçin Çınar, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan “For pioneering research and innovative contributions to electrified aircraft systems and sustainable aviation.”
AIAA Public Service Award
Bhavya Lal, former NASA Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy, NASA Headquarters (retired) “For lasting and sustained leadership in national space policy and setting the course for NASA’s future missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.”
Daniel Guggenheim Medal (Sponsored by AIAA, ASME, SAE International, and the Vertical Flight Society)
Stephen W. Tsai, Research Professor, Emeritus, Stanford University “For foundational contributions to the mechanics of composites over a distinguished 60-year career, resulting in laminate theory and failure criteria that are the basis of modern aerospace composite structures.”
ASCEND connects the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, along with adjacent industries, to embrace the opportunities and address the challenges that come with increased activity in space. Building our sustainable off-world future requires long-term thinking. Strategic planning, innovation, scientific exploration, and effective regulations and standards will help us preserve space for future generations. ASCEND will enable the technical exchanges, debates, and collaboration that will help forge a sustainable off-world future for all.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Watch the video below
