Propellants & Combustion Award Open for Nominations 10 February 2024 1 June 2024

First presented in 1990, the Propellants and Combustion Award is presented for outstanding technical contributions to aeronautical or astronautical combustion engineering.

This annual award is generally presented at the AIAA SciTech Forum.

Deadlines:
Accepting Online Nominations: 10 February
Nomination Deadline: 1 June
Endorsement Letters Deadline: 1 July

Award Recipients

2024

  • Dr Jeffrey M Cohen
    RTRC
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to sprays, combustion control, and gas turbine combustion.

2023

  • Dr Suresh Menon
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
    AIAA Citation: For distinguished and pioneering contributions to the field of multi-scale computational modeling and simulation of turbulent and multiphase combustion in power and propulsion systems.

2022

  • Prof Tim C Lieuwen
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
    AIAA Citation: “For outstanding leadership in research and development of high-performance, fuel-flexible power and propulsion combustion technologies.”

2021

  • Prof Yiguang Ju
    Princeton University
    Awarded
    Award: 2021 AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award
    AIAA Citation: Outstanding contributions in studies of near-limit combustion, plasma assisted combustion, micro combustion, and cool flames

2020

  • Meredith B Colket III
    UTRC (RETIRED)
    Awarded
    Award: 2020 AIAA Propellants & Combustion Award.
    AIAA Citation: “For pioneering contributions in the development of endothermic fuels leading to demonstration of the X-51 and coordinating technology programs supporting certification of alternative jet fuels.”

2018

  • Prof Hai Wang
    Stanford University
    Awarded
    Award: 2018 Propellants and Combustion Award
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of homogeneous and heterogeneous combustion kinetics.

2017

  • Dr Ken N C Bray
    University of Cambridge
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For his pioneering contributions to fundamental understanding of mixing, combustion and gas dynamics for high speed propulsion and his teaching, research and enriched international collaborations.

2016

  • Prof Ahmed F Ghoniem
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering research and practical contributions to propulsion and power systems in computational fluid dynamics and its application to turbulent combustion and combustion dynamics.

2015

  • Dr Mitchell Smooke
    Yale University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For fundamental and substantive contributions to combustion and propellant science and the advancement of numerical combustion.

2014

  • Prof Frederick L Dryer
    Princeton University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For a distinguished record of technical contributions to combustion kinetics, surrogate fuel models, droplet combustion, flow reactors, and fire safety.

2013

  • James F Driscoll
    University of Michigan
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For a distinguished record of technical contributions to combustion science and a sustained record of service and leadership in the propulsion and combustion community.

2012

  • Prof Stephen B Pope
    Cornell University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For original and substantive contributions to the modeling of turbulent reactive flows, in particular for the development of probability density function methods

2011

  • Prof Richard A Yetter
    The Pennsylvania State University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For extensive and fundamental contributions to the advancement of combustion science and technology for aerospace propulsion and energies.

2010

  • Prof David G Lilley
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding pioneering contributions in the understanding of complex swirl flows with combustion for propulsion applications, and for enduring dedication as an educator, researcher, and consultant.

2009

  • Dr Vigor Yang
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the study of unsteady combustion in chemical propulsion systems including solid-and liquid-propellant rockets, hybrid rockets, ramjet/scramjet engines, gas-turbine engines, pulse detonation engines, and solid- and liquid-propellant guns.

2008

  • Dr Elaine S Oran
    University of Maryland
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding career-spanning contributions to the development of numerical techniques and its application to elucidate a variety of problems in combustion science.

2006

  • Prof Herman Krier
    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the study of propellants, energetic materials, solid- and liquid-fuel rockets, shock hydrodynamics, viscous gas dynamics and plasma dynamics.

2005

  • Prof Ronald K Hanson
    Stanford University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to the development of quantitative laser-based combustion diagnostics and applications of these diagnostics to advanced propulsion research and shock tube measurements of combustion chemical kinetics.

2004

  • Prof Forman A Williams
    University of California San Diego
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For immense contributions to the foundation of combustion theory

2002

  • Dr John D Buckmaster
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding theoretical contributions to the physical understanding of fluid mechanics in combustion processes ranging from detonation physics to propellants

2001

  • James E Peters
    Univ of Illinois at UrbanaChampaig
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For his exceptional contribution as a Teacher, Mentor, Researcher in gas turbine and internal combustion engine, and service to AIAA, ASME Combustion Institute, and ILASS

2000

  • Prof Dilip R Ballal
    University of Dayton
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding fundamental contributions to combustion science and jet fuel technology relevant to gas turbine engines

1999

  • Prof Ashwani K Gupta
    University of Maryland
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in combustion technology, waste destruction, pollution control, and advanced methods of energy conversion that have resulted in significant reduction of fuel consumption and pollutant emission.

1998

  • Prof Irvin Glassman
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: As a researcher, author, and editor whose research and educational skills established a school of combustion and propulsion that inspired generations of engineers and academicians

1997

  • Dr Hukam C Mongia
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For individual contribution and providing leadership in design and development of numerous low-emission, high-performance demonstrator and product gas-turbine combustors

1996

  • Dr Ben T Zinn
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to understanding of rocket instabilities and pulse combustion development and being among the first to realize its full potential in industrial processes

1995

  • Prof Kenneth K. Kuo
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions in theoretical and experimental research of solid-propellant combustion processes and active leadership promoting combustion science

1994

  • Dr Chung K Law
    Princeton University
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For technical contributions in the field of spray combustion, propellant formulation and combustion chemistry, and for devotion as an educator and mentor to the academic world

1993

  • Dr Gerard M Faeth
    University of Michigan
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: In recognition of outstanding achievements as an educator and researcher in the areas of propellants and combustion, especially in their applications to rockets and aircraft engines

1992

  • Prof William A Sirignano
    University of California, Irvine
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering and outstanding contributions in the areas of combustion instability, spray vaporization and combustion, flame spreading, and modeling of internal combustion engines

1991

  • Prof Frank E Marble
    California Institute of Technology
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For significant contributions to a wide variety of combustion problems associated with aerospace propulsion systems

1990

  • Prof Arthur H Lefebvre
    Low Furrow
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For distinguished contributions as professor, teacher, researcher and industry consultant in the area of gas turbine combustor design and development