Walter J. and Angeline H. Crichlow Trust Prize Open for Nominations 10 February 2026 – 1 June 2026
The Walter J. and Angeline H. Crichlow Trust Prize was established in 1994 and is presented to a single nominee (which can be an individual or small team of up to 4 contributing individuals) in aerospace materials, structural design, structural analysis, or structural dynamics for a specific achievement or body of work (perhaps extending over a period of years) that became significant during the immediate past 15 years. Nominations should include any one or more of the following: environment and loads definition, utilization of advanced materials and fabrication processes, innovative structural configurations, determination of structural integrity by analysis and test, advanced mathematics and/or computer programming of general and advanced usage, weight-reliability-life cycle considerations, or adaptive structures.
The Prize is presented every four years generally at the AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (AIAA SciTech Forum). The Crichlow Prize award will be presented at the AIAA SciTech Forum in January 2027.
Deadlines:
Accepting Online Nominations: 10 February (Every 4th even year: 2026, 2030, 2034...)
Nomination Deadline: 15 June (Every 4th even year: 2026, 2030, 2034...)
Endorsement Letters Deadline: 1 July (Every 4th even year: 2026, 2030, 2034...)
Award Recipients
2023
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Dr Inderjit ChopraUniversity of MarylandAwardedAward: 2023 AIAA Walter J. and Angeline H. Crichlow Trust PrizeAIAA Citation: For seminal contributions to rotorcraft fundamental research and education; milestone design projects (human-powered, DaVinci-Aerial-Screw, Mars helicopters), and distinguished service to federal agencies, industry, and professional societies.
2019
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Dr Larry B IlcewiczFederal Aviation AdministrationAwardedAward: For exemplary technical leadership in establishing a safety and regulatory framework enabling large scale structural application of composites in commercial and general aviation aircraft, rotorcraft and engines.AIAA Citation: For exemplary technical leadership in establishing a safety and regulatory framework enabling large scale structural application of composites in commercial and general aviation aircraft, rotorcraft and engines.
2015
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Prof Satya N AtluriTexas Tech UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: For lasting contributions to airframe structural integrity and durability analysis using novel computational methods (MLPG meshless methods) and micromechanics of materials genome.
2011
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Dr Chin-Teh SunPurdue UniversityAwardedAward: -AIAA Citation: For pioneering developments in damage tolerant design in composite structural mechanics and for seminal contributions to academic programs in composite structures and materials”.
2007
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Prof Earl H DowellDuke UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to aeroelasticity, structural dynamics and unsteady aerodynamics which had an enormous influence on aerospace technology and for contributions to education and public service in aerospace engineering.
2003
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Dr Paul C Paris128 Sundown RidgeAwardedAIAA Citation: For discovering the Fracture Mechanics Approach to fatigue and for predicting aircraft structural integrity and related lifetime research and educational contributions toward its universal acceptance.
1999
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Prof Lucien A SchmitAwardedAIAA Citation: For pioneering seminal contributions to the initiation of structural optimization and multidisciplinary design and their evolution from abstract concepts to widely used practical tools
1995
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Mr Robert S RyanAwardedAIAA Citation: For pioneering development in space vehicle structural dynamics, and lifetime leadership in the design of structural systems.