Aerodynamics Award Open for Nominations 10 November 2024 – 15 January 2025

Award Recipients

2023

• Roy J Hartfield Jr
  Auburn University

  Awarded

  Award: 2023 AIAA Aerodynamics Award

  AIAA Citation: For the development of fast and practical predictive approaches to the problem of aerodynamic analysis of air vehicles at both conceptual and preliminary design stages.

2022

• Prof Marilyn J Smith
  Georgia Institute of Technology

  Awarded

  Award: 2022 AIAA Aerodynamics Award

  AIAA Citation: “For contributions to the computational and theoretical aerodynamic analysis of static and dynamic systems with separated flows, particularly for vertical takeoff and landing rotorcraft vehicles.”

2021

• Dr Scott A Morton
  DoD HPCMP

  Awarded

  Award: 2021 AIAA Aerodynamics Award

  AIAA Citation: For a career devoted to extending the application of CFD to challenging unsteady aerodynamic phenomena, such as transonic flutter, complex vortical flowfields, and maneuvering flight.

2020

• Dr Mark D Maughmer
  The Pennsylvania State University

  Awarded

  Award: 2020 Aerodynamics Award

  AIAA Citation: For foundational developments in airfoil and wing design, advancement of novel airfoil configurations, and contributions to rotorcraft aeromechanics.

2019

• Mr Robert D Gregg III
  The Boeing Company

  Awarded

  Award: 2019 Aerodynamics Award

  AIAA Citation: “In recognition of innovations in Aircraft Design through inspirational leadership and technical contributions in the field of Aerodynamic design and advanced concepts.”

2018

• Prof Kenneth C Hall
  Duke University

  Awarded

  Award: 2018 Aerodynamics Award

  AIAA Citation: For seminal contributions in the development of novel unsteady aerodynamic theories and analysis methods for internal and external flows.

2017

• Dr John A Benek
  Air Force Research Lab AFRL/RQ

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions to the development of the Chimera scheme making simulations over complex aerodynamic configurations feasible and for advancements in integrated CFD/experimental studies.

2016

• Dr Pieter G Buning
  NASA-Langley Research Center

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of exceptional leadership, innovation and expertise in the field of overset grid CFD methods and applications that are used internationally for wide-spread advancements in the aerodynamic design and development of air and space vehicles.

2015

• Prof Russell M Cummings
  US Air Force Academy

  Awarded

  Award: -

  AIAA Citation: For a career devoted to predicting and understanding the vortical flowfields about aircraft at high angles of attack and during maneuvers

2014

• Dr Michael S Selig
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding contributions to applied aerodynamics research, design, and education, including leadership in the development and public dissemination of airfoil and propeller data.

2013

• Dr Neal T Frink
  NASA-Langley Research Center

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For meritorious achievement in the field of applied aerodynamics through notable contributions in the development, application, and evaluation of aerodynamic concepts and methods

2012

• Dr John C Vassberg
  The Boeing Company

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of air vehicle aerodynamic design and optimization; and for exceptional leadership and technical expertise in advancing CFD drag reduction and prediction capabilities.

2011

• Preston A Henne
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding leadership and contribution in the aerodynamic field of low boom supersonics research.

2010

• Dr Thomas C Corke
  University of Notre Dame

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For his strong commitment to academic and research achievement, consistent record of superior technical accomplishment, and numerous experimental and computational contributions to aerodynamics.

2009

• Dr Jubaraj Sahu
  US Army Research Laboratory

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding contributions in development and application of unsteady aerodynamics of micro-adaptive flow control and demonstration of control authority of spinning munitions.

2008

• Prof Ramesh K Agarwal
  Washington University in St Louis

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering development of computational fluid dynamics methods and codes for the aerodynamic analysis and design of all categories of aerospace vehicles.

2007

• Dr Michael B Bragg
  University of Washington

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering research on the aerodynamic effects of ice accretion on aircraft and the aerodynamic phenomena responsible.

2006

• Mr William B Blake
  Air Force Reseach Laboratory

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For exceptional contributions to applied aerodynamic predictions through experimentation and empirical and engineering modeling.

2005

• Dr Robert M Hall
  NASA-Langley Research Center

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions toward understanding the flow physics and configuration aerodynamics of high performance aircraft.

2004

• Jean M Delery
  ONERA

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding experimental contributions to the understanding of the flow physics of base flows, multi-flux nozzles, shock wave/boundary layer interaction and vortex breakdown

2003

• Dr Thomas J Mueller
  University of Notre Dame

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: “For outstanding experimental contributions to the understanding of the flow physics of Low Reynolds number airfoils and wings.”

2002

• Mr Richard L Campbell
  NASA-Langley Research Center

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding technical contributions toward advancement of rapid, high-fidelity aerodynamic design capability for complex aerospace configurations

2001

• Mr. Gerald L Winchenbach
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement and significant contributions in experimental applied aerodynamic research within a free-flight ballistics range

2000

• C Edward Lan
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For three decades of continuous contribution to the field of applied aerodynamics leading to the development of VORSTAB code, high-awind tunnel correction and unsteady aerodynamics

1999

• Mr. Frank T Lynch
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in applied aerodynamics connected with the design of the DC-8, DC-9 and DC-10 airplanes and for technology leadership in the fields of propulsion/airframe integration, laminar flow control, viscous scaling and transonic wing and high-lift aerodynamics

1998

• M. L Spearman
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For pioneering research and exceptional contributions in the field of supersonic aerodynamics which has impacted the design of essentially every supersonic aircraft and missile developed in the US since the1950''s

1997

• Werner K Dahm
  NASA MSFC

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For meritorious performance and exceptional contributions in the aerodynamic design and analysis of strategic rockets and manned/unmanned launch vehicles

1996

• Mr. Jan R Tulinius
  Rockwell International Corp

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For successful flight demonstration of a significant amount of supersonic laminar flow on a highly swept wing aircraft

1995

• Mr. Lawrence E Putnam
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For leadership in the advancement of applied computational fluid dynamic methods and the development and application of high Reynolds-number wind tunnel testing

1994

• Heinz A Gerhardt
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For meritorious performance in all areas of aerodynamics as applied to high performance tactical aircraft

1993

• Dr Tuncer Cebeci
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For sustained contributions to the understanding and numerical computation of viscous flows, especially the important problem of the transition in three-dimensional flows, and successfully applying basic research techniques to real aircraft problems.

1992

• Mr. Joe F Thompson
  General Dynamics

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For meritorious achievement in the field of applied aerodynamics recognizing notable contributions in numerical grid generation which have revolutionized computational aerodynamics for realistic configurations and complex flows

1991

• Dr Norman D Malmuth
  Teledyne Scientific Company

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For meritorious achievement in the field of applied aerodynamics and recognition for notable contributions in the development and application of combined asymptotics and numerics in the solution of transonic and hypersonic problems

1990

• Mr. Hans W Grellmann
  Northrop Grumman Corporation

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: In recognition of exceptional contributions in leading the B-2 aerodynamics team in their development of a highly efficient aircraft with outstanding handling properties despite the severe constraints imposed by low observability requirements

1989

• Edward N Tinoco
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For meritorious achievement in the field of applied aerodynamics recognizing notable contributions in the development, application and evaluation of aerodynamics concepts and methods, and for the pursuit of pioneering applications of Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics to commercial and military air vehicles analysis and design

1987

• Dr Robert H Liebeck
  The Boeing Company

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For the development of the highly successful and widely used "Liebeck Airfoils" which have demonstrated lift-to-drag ratios as high as 235

1986

• Dr Bruce J Holmes
  SmartSky Networks, LLC

  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For research excellence demonstrating the practicality of using natural laminar boundary layer flow to reduce the drag on modern, smooth aircraft surfaces

1985

• Dr Forrester T Johnson
  Awarded

  Award: -

  AIAA Citation: For development of advanced aerodynamic panel methods used throughout the industry for commercial and military aircraft

1984

• Dr Lars E Ericsson
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For outstanding aerodynamic advancements in the field of unsteady, separated and vortex flows, through experimental and analytical development and their application to the development of launch vehicles, space shuttle, re-entry vehicles, aircraft and missile configurations

1983

• Dr John E Lamar
  Awarded

  AIAA Citation: For developing aerodynamic analysis and design methods for wings having strong leading-edge-vortex flow and for developing and experimentally verifying favorable shaping of wings and strakes to exploit vortex flow for performance improvement