2020 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala Video Written 17 July 2020

This year the coronavirus pandemic created hardships and uncertainty unlike any other event in recent memory. Due to the pandemic the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) chose to officially recognize the 2020 honorees in 2021 and cancel the 2020 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala event.

Chosen by their peers, the 2020 AIAA Fellows and Honorary Fellows and AIAA premier awards winners have played pivotal and vital roles in shaping the next phase of exploration and flight. They reflect the best of our community, one that stands together. Collectively, we seek to explore, dream, discover, and, most of all, to make a difference. These lasting achievements can only be accomplished with the support of our teams and technical and program staff, as well as our families and friends. We hope you enjoy this video that honors those who have taken up the call to improve our world and seek solutions to daunting challenges.

Aerospace teaches us how to adapt quickly in the face of adversity, adopting fresh approaches while learning from the past. Working toward the greater good is a consistent theme throughout our community. We pursue the seemingly impossible to make lasting change that inspires the world we are natural problem-solvers.
 
To our honorees, we applaud you for epitomizing the potential and the achievements of our community. Your diligence, ingenuity, and commitment have made all the difference. Your work inspires us to reach for more and we thank you. Congratulations on your achievements.

As Amelia Earhart said, “You haven’t seen a tree until you’ve seen its shadow from the sky.”

Aerospace expands our perspective on how we see our world. We can rest on the certainty that even during challenging times, we will move forward and what we learn today will help create a better tomorrow.

We look forward to celebrating together when we can gather in person at the 2021 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala on 19 May 2021.

Sincerely,

Dan Dumbacher
AIAA Executive Director

Basil Hassan
AIAA President