Mark J. Lewis

Purdue Applied Research Institute

The Distinguished Service Award was established by the Board of Directors in 1968 to give unique recognition to an individual member of AIAA who has provided distinguished service to the Institute for a period of at least 15 years. The recipient must be a member in good standing who has shown particular dedication to the interests of the Institute by making significant and continuing contributions.

For outstanding and notable contributions to AIAA at the section, regional, and national level over the past four decades.
Award Presentation: Wednesday, 20 May, 8 a.m. Plenary Session, Center Ballroom, Washington Hilton

Indian Space Research Organisation

The Goddard Astronautics Award is the highest honor AIAA bestows for notable achievements in the field of astronautics.

For the groundbreaking landing of the ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 near the lunar south pole region, to deepen our understanding of the moon and beyond.
Award Presentation: Thursday, 21 May, 8 a.m. Plenary Session, Center Ballroom, Washington Hilton

Tory Bruno

President, Blue National Security, Blue Origin
Former president and CEO, United Launch Alliance (ULA)

The David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce recognizes a prominent industry leader or senior management team who has created or grown a space-related business and generated substantial economic benefits and market value.
The award is sponsored and endowed by Orbital ATK Inc. (now Northrop Grumman) to commemorate the long and distinguished career of commercial space pioneer, David W. Thompson.

Lecture: “Transforming ULA: Shaping the Future of Space Launch”
Bruno’s lecture will address his leadership tenure at ULA which began in 2014, a pivotal time when the industry was on the precipice of a new competitive launch market. He implemented a business strategy to completely transform ULA to compete in a global commercial environment, while continuing to launch ULA’s customers’ critical missions with 100% mission success. Under Bruno’s leadership, ULA also began developing a new next-generation rocket, purpose-built to maintain the accurate delivery of the U.S. government’s most complex missions. As a testament to the company’s corporate change, ULA recently received the largest commercial rocket purchase in history.

Lecture Presentation: Tuesday, 19 May, 12:15 p.m., Center Ballroom, Washington Hilton

Maruthi Akella

Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Cockrell Family Endowed Chair in Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
University of Texas Austin

This lectureship recognizes an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themself technically in the field of astronautics.

Lecture: “Opinion Dynamics, Learning, Trust, and Control of Autonomous Space Systems”
This lecture will showcase a framework for multithread learning designed to maintain spacecraft performance despite high uncertainty and fast variations. The approach builds on recently developed learning structures and trust metrics. During his lecture, Akella will illustrate the framework through ISAM examples in spacecraft guidance and proximity operations.

Lecture Presentation: Wednesday, 20 May, 12:15 p.m., Center Ballroom, Washington Hilton

Johns Hopkins APL Parker Solar Probe Team

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the architecture, analysis, design, and implementation of space systems.

For achieving the first mission into a star’s atmosphere through unprecedented autonomy, thermal protection, mission design, and spacecraft design innovations.
Award Presentation: Wednesday, 20 May, 8 a.m. Plenary Session, Center Ballroom, Washington Hilton