AIAA is the largest and oldest American technical society devoted to the progress of science and engineering in aviation and space. It was formed in 1963 by the merger of the American Rocket Society and the Aerospace Sciences, which date back to 1930 and 1932, respectively. The institute pursues an active program in public policy and public information including special assignments, workshops, and frequent testimony before Congressional committees concerning the aerospace programs of DOD, NASA, FAA, and other agencies. It is a member organization of the International Astronautical Federation and the International Council of the Aeronautical Federation and the International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS). Worldwide, AIAA has more than 31,000 members at all levels of industry, academia, and government. It has 69 standing technical committees and 64 local sections, two of them in Australia.
Southeast Virginia is represented by the Hampton Roads Section of AIAA, which has a membership of approximately 1070. The membership is made up of employees and contractors of NASA Langley Research Center, a large pool of retirees, as well as student chapters at the Old Dominion University in Norfolk and Virginia Tech at Blacksburg. The Hampton Roads Section actively participates in AIAA National initiatives and programs. Local programs are held through out the year and cater to the needs of the entire membership including young professionals and retirees. The Section annually awards two $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors planning careers related to aerospace engineering. The Section has a very active program in pre-college education.
If you are not receiving your Section Newsletters or event announcements via e-mail regularly, please verify that
your e-mail address is accurate in the AIAA database. This can be done by accessing your account at the AIAA
website, www.aiaa.org under the topic "My Information". Something as simple as an e-mail "typo" could prevent you
from receiving Section information.
If you cannot or choose not to receive any e-mail from AIAA Hampton Roads Section, but still want to receive
Newsletters/announcements from the Section via postal mail, please mail us such a request to:
AIAA HRS Secretary
P.O. Box 7392
Hampton, VA 23666
Dr. Ivatury S. Raju has been selected for the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA) Hampton Roads Section (HRS) Engineer-of-the-Year (EOY) for his
outstanding technical contribution in fracture mechanics for the investigation of the Space
Shuttle wing leading edge Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) spallation root cause. Through the
efforts, detailed analytical models were developed and verified for regions of RCC panels
where spallation has been observed. Using a rigorous fracture mechanics assessment, key
parameters that contribute to potential spallation events have been identified and this
understanding is an integral part of the on-going root cause investigation. Dr. Raju will be
recognized at and deliver the annual Axel T. Mattson Lecture, hosted by AIAA HRS.
Sungwan Kim, Ph.D.
Chair, Honors and Awards Committee
AIAA HRS
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Hampton Roads
Section (HRS) nominations for the 2008 "Robert A. Mitcheltree Young Engineer
of the Year Award" are due by October 17, 2008. Through this award, one
member of the AIAA HRS is recognized each year for distinguishing himself or
herself in some facet of aerospace engineering practice as a young
professional. To qualify, a candidate must be less than 35 years of age,
have less than 15 years of professional experience as of December 1, 2008,
and be a member of AIAA Hampton Roads Section. Please submit a one-page
preliminary nomination that includes contact information for the candidate,
lists degrees earned, and summarizes significant accomplishments. (Please
also attach the nominee's publication list, which will not be counted
towards the 1 page limit). The AIAA HRS will select their winner and this
person will then be submitted as HRS's nominee for the local Peninsula
Engineers Council's annual young engineer award and the national AIAA young
engineer of the year award.
Your nomination should be submitted
electronically by COB Friday, October 17 to: melissa.b.carter@nasa.gov.
Please contact Melissa Carter (melissa.b.carter@nasa.gov, 864-8606) if you
have any questions.
Last update: January 19, 2005 - NP