Dr. John E. LaGraff to Receive AIAA 2014 International Cooperation Award
Honored for Stimulating Multi-Generational US - European Collaboration and Coordination
April 24, 2014 – Reston, Va. – John E. LaGraff, AIAA Associate Fellow, and professor emeritus, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y., has won the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA) 2014 International Cooperation Award. The award will be presented on April 30, during the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, in Washington, D.C.
The AIAA International Cooperation Award recognizes an individual, or individuals, who have made significant contributions to the initiation, organization, implementation and/or management of activities with significant U.S. involvement that includes extensive international cooperative activities in space, aeronautics or both.
LaGraff is being honored for “stimulating multi-generational U.S.–European collaboration and coordination through AIAA’s creation and sponsorship of the PEGASUS student paper competition and its participation in the annual Student Paper Contest.”
LaGraff has worked to build a long-lasting collaboration between European and American aerospace communities, especially through links developed under the Program of a European Group of Aeronautics and Space UniversitieS (PEGASUS) group. Composed of 24 universities from nine nations, the PEGASUS group works to tailor student experiences in understanding, appreciating and building on the advantages associated with the multi-language, multi-cultural nature of the European aerospace industry. Through his work as Vice-President of Education for AIAA, LaGraff created a strategic initiative to form an annual PEGASUS student paper competition, providing financial awards to the winner, and supporting the winners’ participation in the AIAA Foundation International Student Conference, which is held in January each year at the AIAA Science and Technology Forum. Student participation in these programs has laid the groundwork for substantial, long-term cooperation between future generations of European and U.S. aerospace leaders.
LaGraff was AIAA’s vice-president, education, from 2004 to 2007; and a member of the Institute Development Committee from 2005 to 2007. He also served as AIAA’s deputy director for education for the Northeast Region (Region I). Additionally, LaGraff is a former chairperson of the Aerospace Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).
LaGraff’s other honors include the AIAA/ASEE J. Leland Atwood Award; a 1993 AIAA Special Service Citation; and the AIAA National Faculty Advisor Award. LaGraff is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
For more information about the AIAA International Cooperation Award, or the AIAA Honors and Awards program, please contact Carol Stewart at 703.264.7623 or carols@aiaa.org
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