Engineer of the Year Award Open for Nominations 1 July 2024 – 1 September 2024
The AIAA Engineer of the Year (EOY) Award is presented to a member of AIAA who has made a recent, individual, technical contribution in the application of scientific and mathematical principles leading to a significant technical accomplishment.
The AIAA Engineer of the Year Award is intended for recognition of an individual’s single scientific and/or technical contribution. Career or lifetime achievements are not eligible, neither is a team or a management accomplishment. However, a project lead or a member of a team is eligible, provided that he/she has made significant individual contribution to the team’s success. The award is intended for a recent accomplishment, specifically within the last three years, with the intent to “capture the moment”. Thus, both the individual’s specific technical contribution and the recentness of the accomplishment need to be conveyed in the award write-up. Nominations will be evaluated on the significance of the contribution, the impact of the contribution to the aerospace community, and the quality of the references. Diversity in the reference pool is highly recommended.
The candidate must be an AIAA professional member in good standing (active membership). AIAA Student members, Educator Associates or E-Members are not eligible.
The Engineer of the Year Award is an individual award. Current standing members of the AIAA Board of Trustees, Council of Directors, or Honors and Awards Committee are not eligible for the EOY award, but may be considered once their terms have ended.
This award will be presented at the AIAA Awards Gala in Washington D.C. If the recipient is unable to attend the Gala, they can select one of the AIAA Forums or a Section/Region event to receive the award.
Deadlines:
Accepting Online Nominations: 1 July
Nomination Deadline: 1 September
Endorsement Letters Deadline: 1 October
Award Recipients
2024
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Dr Kurt A PolzinNASA Marshall Space Flight CenterAwardedAward: 2024 AIAA Engineer of the Year AwardAIAA Citation: For inspired technical leadership as Chief Engineer of NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion Project, positioning the nation to rapidly mature, demonstrate, and use nuclear propulsion systems.
2023
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Dr Alison A NordtLockheed Martin Space SystemsAwardedAward: 2023 AIAA Engineer of the Year AwardAIAA Citation: For exceptional engineering and technical leadership in the development of the Near Infrared Camera critical to the success of the James Webb Space Telescope.
2022
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Paul R GradlNASA Marshall Space Flight CenterAwardedAward: 2022 AIAA Engineer of the Year AwardAIAA Citation: “For exceptional engineering and technical innovation developing metal additive manufacturing techniques, advanced materials, and large-scale techniques for rocket components while proactively promoting technology transfer.”
2021
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Dr Humberto Silva IIISandia National LaboratoriesAwardedAward: 2021 AIAA Engineer of the Year AwardAIAA Citation: “For pioneering the modernization of re-entry vehicle probability loss of assured safety assessments including conduction, convection, chemical kinetics, radiation and associated thermophysical material uncertainty.”
2020
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Dr Andrew T KleshJet Propulsion LaboratoryAwardedAward: 2020 Engineer of the YearAIAA Citation: For exceptional engineering and technical leadership achievements in the development of MarCO, the first interplanetary CubeSat pathfinder, enabling future NASA deep space small satellites.
2019
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Mr Timothy DominickNorthrop GrummanAwardedAward: For successful development and implementation of a novel structural insulator material, JT-700, into multiple controllable solids propulsion systems with potential applications across the aerospace industryAIAA Citation: For successful development and implementation of a novel structural insulator material, JT-700, into multiple controllable solids propulsion systems with potential applications across the aerospace industry
2018
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Rodger E FarleyAwardedAward: For the system design of a controlled lighter than air vehicle which is capable of station keeping in the stratosphereAIAA Citation: For the system design of a controlled lighter than air vehicle which is capable of station keeping in the stratosphere
2017
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Prof Michael KeidarThe George Washington UniversityAwardedAIAA Citation: For significant contributions to fundamentals and applications of electric propulsion, particularly micro-propulsion for small satellites.
2016
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Mrs Robin J. OsborneAwardedAIAA Citation: For increasing the aerospace industry’s understanding of spark torch ignition systems and building a low-cost ignition test facility
2015
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Dr William J Emrich JrNASA Marshall Space Flight CenterAwardedAward: -AIAA Citation: For conceiving of, designing, and bringing to operational status the megawatt-class Nuclear Thermal Rocket Element Environment Simulator.
2014
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Mr William B BlakeAir Force Reseach LaboratoryAwardedAIAA Citation: “For exceptional contributions to advance formation flight through invention and patent of critical technology and leading flight test demonstration of fuel savings.”
2013
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Dr Rob Williams711 HPW/RHAwardedAIAA Citation: For exquisite engineering of an agile, all-source data fusion system for national security and for leadership of an innovative, high impact STEM outreach program.
2012
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Dr John P ClarkUS Air ForceAwardedAIAA Citation: For contributions to assessment and design of efficient gas turbine components, specifically for inventing optimization methods for shock-interaction reduction and improved film-cooling performance.
2011
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Mr Jay M BrandonNASA Langley Research CenterAwardedAIAA Citation: For superb technical contributions in the development of the flight control system and high-fidelity simulation of the Ares I-X, which was successfully flown on 28 October 2009.
2010
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Dr Michael G GilbertNASA-Langley Research CenterAwardedAIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the highly successful development and flight demonstration of the NASA Engineering Safety Center Max Launch Abort System (MLAS).
2009
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Dr Frederick R SchauerAir Force Institute of TechnologyAwardedAIAA Citation: For contributions to developing the next generation of power for future flight vehicles, specifically for a recent flight test of a pulsed detonation engine.
2008
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Mr William Harrison IIIAir Force Reseach LaboratoryAwardedAIAA Citation: For dedicated work to develop, demonstrate, certify and field fuels from alternative energy resources for DoD applications to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
2007
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Mr. Elbert L RutanScaled Composites LLCAwardedAIAA Citation: For bold innovations and concepts that have provided a low-cost approach for access to space and won the civilian space race with SpaceShipOne.
2006
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Mr Thomas J HorvathNASA Langley Research CenterAwardedAIAA Citation: For exemplary contributions to understanding of Space Shuttle orbiter aerothermodynamic phenomena which were critical to the Columbia accident investigation, and the safe entry of Discovery on the STS-114 Return-to-Flight mission.
2005
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Dr Prasun N DesaiNASA-Langley Research CenterAwardedAIAA Citation: For superior accomplishments and significant contributions to the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Project.
2004
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Dr Paul M MunafoTeledyne Brown EngineeringAwardedAIAA Citation: For extraordinary technical expertise, leadership skills, and dedication to the aerospace profession.
2003
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William M ParksAeroVironmentAwardedAIAA Citation: For engineering skills and team mentoring and consistently pushing the envelope of record-setting long-duration flights with unique high-altitude solar electric powered aircraft like Helios.
2002
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Scott WinshipNorthrop Grumman CorporationAwardedAIAA Citation: For his integral design and demonstrative role of Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) propulsion and control integration for the X-35B Joint Strike Fighter.
2001
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Steven X BauerNASA Langley Research CenterAwardedAIAA Citation: For maturing and innovatively applying Passive Porosity Technology to achieve improved controllability of aerospace vehicles.
2000
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Krishan K AhujaGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAwardedAIAA Citation: For outstanding innovative contributions, including sound-related patents, to the field of experimental aeroacoustics in the areas of jet noise, flow/acoustic interactions, aircraft propulsion systems acoustics, automotive and noise control.
1999
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Dr Leonard M WeinsteinAwardedAIAA Citation: For development of various versions of a large field focusing and motion camera schlieren systems to visualize complex flow fields for high Mach number flows.
1998
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Mr. Tommaso P RivelliniJet Propulsion LaboratoryAwardedAIAA Citation: For outstanding achievement in the leadership and development of the Mars Pathfinder Airbag System.
1997
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Mr. David M UrieColbaugh & Heinsheimer Consulting, IncAwardedAIAA Citation: For leadership, vision, communication skills, and tenacity which shaped the national Space transportation policy, making it possible for advanced technologies to be applied to national space needs.
1996
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Preston A HenneAwardedAward: 1AIAA Citation: For leading the Concurrent Engineering Team in the development of Gulfstream V, first Global Business Jet Aircraft, and directing a world-wide partnership program through detail design, manufacture, and flight-testing
1995
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Dr George S SpringerAwardedAIAA Citation: For sustained contributions in analysis and manufacturing development of composite assemblies.
1994
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Mr. Roland L BowlesNASAAwardedAward: 1994 Engineer of the Year AwardAIAA Citation: For contributions to improved aircraft safety through characterizations of the wind shear hazard, and for leadership in developing forward-look sensors for microburst hazard detection.
1993
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Mr Domenic J MaglieriEagle Aeronautics, Inc.AwardedAIAA Citation: For outstanding contributions to the fundamental understanding, prediction and control of aircraft noise and sonic booms therefore furthering the design of environmentally acceptable commercial aircraft systems.
1992
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Dr Antonio L EliasOrbital ATKAwardedAIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to the invention, development , production and operation of the Pegasus air-launched space booster, the world's first privately-developed space launch vehicle.
1991
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Mr. Frank C Gillette Jr.AwardedAIAA Citation: For a generation of leadership in designing, developing and fielding outstanding aerospace propulsion systems, and cultivating the advanced technologies that spell success.
1990
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Mr. Clarence J WesselskiLockheed Engr & Sci CoAwardedAIAA Citation: For conceiving the basic design, serving as a principal designer, and leading the development test effort for the Pole crew escape system for the Space Shuttle Orbiter.
1989
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Bernard L KoffAwardedAIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership in the design and development of Pratt & Whitney's F100-PW-220 engine, the first Military Propulsion System to complete the equivalent of approximately 18 years of operational service on one set of engine hardware.