Reed Aeronautics Award

About the Award

The Reed Aeronautics Award is named after Dr. Sylvanus A. Reed, a founding member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences in 1932, and is the "highest honor an individual can receive for a notable achievement in aeronautics that represents a significant engineering advancement milestone".

Award recipients

2022, Prof Peretz P Friedmann, “For inventing on-blade control for vibration reduction in rotorcraft and developing aerothermoelastic scaling laws facilitating hypersonic vehicle wind tunnel testing and design.”
2021, Dr Michimasa Fujino, “For the invention of advanced aerodynamic and structural technologies.”
2020, Dr Alan C Brown, For his Engineering Leadership of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Team that Designed and Produced the F-117, the First Stealth Fighter/Bomber Aircraft
2019, Dr Philippe R Spalart, For contributions in the simulation of complex turbulent flows enabling the prediction and optimization of aerodynamic characteristics of aerospace vehicles.
2018, Prof Mark Drela, For unique sustained contributions to a broad range of path-breaking aircraft designs and for development of widely used aircraft design software
2017, Prof Edward M Greitzer, “For outstanding and sustained contributions to solving real world problems in aerodynamics of propulsion components, systems, and integration, and for the development of successful collaborations with academia, industry and government.
2016, Prof Earl H Dowell, For pioneering contributions to aeroelasticity, structural dynamics, and unsteady aerodynamics which have had a tremendous influence on aerospace technology.
2015, Prof Ramesh K Agarwal, For outstanding leadership in aerospace education and research and advancing a wide range of aerospace vehicles through application of computational fluid dynamics.
2014, Dr Ben T Zinn, For extensive and fundamental contributions to aerospace propulsion and power technologies, research, education, literature, and workforce development.
2013, HON Paul G Kaminski, For outstanding vision and leadership in the development of advanced aeronautical systems to enhance our national security
2012, Preston A Henne, For exemplary leadership in the development, design, testing and certification of major airplane programs and significant contributions to supersonic boom mitigation.
2011, Dr David A Peters, “For outstanding contributions to the advancement of rotary wing unsteady aerodynamic theory and applications to design.”
2010, Dr Eugene E Covert, For lifelong contributions to aeronautics teaching; research through advancements in state-of-the-art wind tunnel testing at subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speeds; and public service.
2009, Prof Anatol Roshko, For pioneering research in fluid mechanics and the worldwide education of aeronautical scientists and engineers through his seminal textbook with Hans W. Liepmann, Elements of Gasdynamics.
2008, Mr. Alain Garcia, For outstanding and visionary contributions to aeronautical engineering through the establishment of Engineering Centres for Innovations in the four Airbus corresponding nations.
2007, Dr Meyer J Benzakein, For key contributions to the development and application of the CFM-56 and GE-90 families of high-bypass turbofan engines and their impact on the success of several Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
2006, Dr Holt Ashley,: For pioneering contributions in the fields of structural dynamics, unsteady aerodynamics, and aeroelasticity that have had a significant impact on the design of today’s aircraft.
2005, Mr Ralph Heath, For contributions to aeronautics technology development, production, management and strategy exemplified by his work on major programs supporting the air forces of the United States and key allies.
2004, Dr Heinz Erzberger, In recognition of excellence in basic research and vision in transforming this research into products that have been implemented by the FAA to improve the air traffic system
2003, Mr. Dain M Hancock, For his career long contributions to military aircraft science, program management, and multi-national cooperation in defense technology. His leadership has been key to the creation and fielding of the next generation of advanced military aircraft, including the F-22, F-35, and advanced F-16 versions - products that will protect the United States and its allies for much of the 21st century
2002, Mr. Robert A Mitchell, For the development and international deployment of the Global Hawk System
2001, Mr. Elbert L Rutan, In recognition of significant contributions and achievements in the field of aeronautical sciences and engineering, as an engineer, designer and builder of aircraft that challenge conventional wisdom, thus opening the door for innovation in aircraft prototyping and stimulation of new ideas and applications to future aerospace endeavors
2000, Dr Sheila E Widnall, In recognition as a noted researcher, engineering educator, Secretary of the United States Air Force, and proponent of streamlining government aerospace procurement
1999, James "Micky" A Blackwell, For distinguished contributions and achievements in the engineering development and management of aeronautical systems through the use of the Integrated Product Team/Concurrent Engineering concept and for leading the design and development of the F-22 Raptor program
1998, Roy V Harris, For exemplary leadership in aeronautics research and technology development which contributed to the foundations for U.S. supremacy in subsonic, supersonic, hypersonic, high-performance military, and commercial aircraft
1997, Mr. George G Field, For engineering/production turnaround on the C-17 Globemaster III and as a leading figure in fielding the DC-10 and MD-11 airliners
1996, Mr. Alan R Mulally, For significant, multidimensional contributions to the development and fielding of the Boeing 777 and a lifetime of achievement in commercial aviation
1995, Wolfgang Herbst, For innovation in the design of control configured aircraft culminating in the conception and eventual proof of post-stall maneuvering technology through the X-31 Program
1994, Ben R Rich, For substantial and creative contributions to the most advanced state-of-the-art aircraft with a special impact on reconnaissance systems and advanced fighter aircraft
1993, Mr. Charles A Zraket, For sustained contributions and leadership in pioneering the integration of command, control and communications into military and civil aeronautical systems
1992, James N Krebs, For innovations on advanced aircraft engines and engine components including high temperature, high bypass and variable cycle developments
1991, Mr Richard H Petersen, For outstanding leadership and contributions in aeronautical science and engineering, significantly impacting the scope and direction of the nations aeronautical capabilities in the continuing move to hypersonic speeds
1990, Bernard L Koff, Innovative design, systems, and manufacturing concepts for the concepts for the aircraft industry
1989, John Patierno, For inspired leadership in over three decades of aeronautics design nominating in the responsibility for the B-2 research and development team, which has pioneered many innovative design, systems, and manufacturing concepts for the concepts for the aircraft industry.
1988, Mr. Brian H Rowe, For a lifetime of contributions and leadership in advancing the technology of high performance aircraft gas turbine engines
1987, Mr. R. R Heppe, For 40 years of continuous and outstanding contribution to the fields of aircraft design, aerodynamics and dynamics, and for his significant participation in the development of more than 25 military and commercial aircraft, including the supersonic F-104 Starfighter and the L-1011 Tristar wide-bodied jetliner
1986, Robert J Patton, For over three decades of technical contributions in aerodynamics, propulsion, and systems engineering as applied to advanced strategic and tactical aircraft
1985, Thomas V Jones, For his management of advanced technology for fighter aircraft, combining combat performance, reliability and economy.
1984, Mr. Frederick T Rall Jr., For over three decades of leadership in the advancement of combat aircraft for the USAF
1983, Mr. R. H Widmer, For over 40 years of exceptional service and contribution to aeronautics and his nation, as design innovator, technical leader and inspiring engineering executive, leading the development of four of the USAFs advanced aircraft - the B-36, B-58, F-111 and F-16 and pioneering the eras of supersonic cruise and fly-by-wire computerized flight control
1982, Dr John L McLucas, For contributions and achievements in the development and management of aeronautical systems and for leadership in major US aviation programs
1981, William R Sears, For outstanding contributions to steady and to unsteady aerodynamic theory; and for long-standing contributions to engineering education
1980, Mr. Donald Malvern, For distinguished engineering and scientific achievement in leading the United States Air Force F-15 Eagle Through design, production, and testing into operational status
1979, Dr Paul B MacCready, For the ingenious conception, creative design, and masterly execution of the Gossamer Condor - the first man-powered aircraft capable of sustained flight in all directions under perfect equilibrium and control
1978, Lt Gen James T Stewart
1977, Mr. William C Dietz, For a career of leadership in the engineering development of advanced military aircraft, including the B-36, B-58, F-111 and most recently the YF-16, successful lightweight fighter competitor whose service introduction will embody the first operational application of fly-by-wire control, the extensive use of advanced composites in primary airframe structure, and numerous other technical contributions to air combat capability
1976, Mr. George A Spangenberg, For notable contribution to aeronautical design throughout a generation of naval aircraft programs during which he provided a dominant influence in the development of practical naval aeronautical systems
1975, Antonio Ferri, For basic supersonic research and continuing advances in air breathing propulsion and airplane design, including imaginative development of the supersonic combustion ramjet, the low Nox combustor and methods for reducing sonic boom signatures
1974, Mr. Willis M Hawkins, For notable contributions to the design and development of aerospace vehicles including vertical take-off, transport, interceptor, and supersonic fighter types of aircraft and a number of missiles.
1973, I Edward Garrick, For outstanding contributions in the areas of aeroelasticity, structural dynamics, noise, flutter, and landing dynamics of aerospace vehicles
1972, Max M Munk, For enduring contributions to the science of aerodynamics
1971, Mr. Ira Grant Hedrick, For technical excellence, design innovation and leadership in the structural development of several generations of aerospace vehicles
1970, Dr Richard T Whitcomb, For the imaginative use of wind tunnel experimentation for the solution of aerodynamic problems for the improvement of the aerodynamic performance of trans-sonic aircraft
1969, Prof Rene H Miller, For outstanding contributions to the fundamental knowledge, understanding and improvement of the flying qualities and high speed behavior of rotary-wing aircraft
1967, Adolph Buseman
1966, Clarence L Johnson
1965, Mr. Arthur E Raymond
1964, Dr Abe Silverstein
1961, Dr A. J Eggers Jr.
1959, Karel J Bossart
1958, Victor E Carbonera
1957, Raymond L Bisplinghoff, For developing ways to calculate aircraft loads and stresses.
1956, Clarence L Johnson
1954, Clark B Millikan, For contributions to fluid mechanics, airplane, aerodynamics, and wind tunnel technology.
1953, Ernest G Stout
1952, Mr. John P Stack
1951, Edward H Heinemann, For design and development of experimental aircraft for investigating transonic and supersonic flight phenomena.
1950, Dr R. R Gilruth, For the conception and development of new techniques for obtaining transonic and supersonic data using freely flying models.
1949, Mr. George S Schairer
1948, George W Brady
1947, Galen B Schubauer, Dr Harold K Skramstad
1945, Charles S Draper
1944, Fred E Weick
1943, Sanford A Moss
1942, Igor I Sikorsky
1941, Theodore von Karman, For development of theory of the influence of curvature on buckling characteristics of aircraft structures.
1940, Hugh L Dryden
1939, George J Mead
1938, Alfred V de Forest
1937, Eastman N Jacobs
1936, Edward S Taylor
1935, Frank W Caldwell
1934, G. G Rossby