AIAA Elects New Fellows and Honorary Fellows

Elaine Oran, James Albaugh and John Junkins have been elected as Honorary Fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). AIAA announced the election of the 2011 Fellows and Honorary Fellows yesterday. They will be honored at AIAA’s Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala Dinner on May 11, 2011 at the Ronald Reagan buiding.

Honorary Fellow is the highest distinction offered by AIAA and no more than four are chosen each year. Dr. Oran is only the fourth woman to receive that honor since the first Honorary Fellow — Orville Wright — was named in 1933 by one of AIAA’s predecessor organizations. Eilene Galloway became AIAA’s first woman Honorary Fellow in 2005; Yvonne Brill and Shiela Widnall since have received the honor.

Dr. Oran is a senior scientist for reactive flow physics at the Naval Research Laboratory and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Mr. Albaugh is Executive Vice President of the Boeing Company and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Dr. Junkins is a Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

AIAA also announced the election of 29 new Fellows. One new Fellow is elected each year for each 1,000 voting members of AIAA. A list of the new Fellows is provided in the AIAA press release.