Aerospace News

Emma Signor, an aerospace engineering graduate, holds the Mark Spencer Creative Mentorship Award earned at the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering annual spring awards ceremony in April 2024. Signor plans to return to Auburn in the fall of 2024 to obtain a master's degree in aerospace engineering.

Aerospace Engineering graduate earns multiple top honors
6/21/24 10:00 AM

In 2020, Emma Signor was making one of the most important decisions of her young life about where to attend college. She knew little about Auburn University besides the men's basketball team's thrilling trip to the Final Four the previous year and its renowned aerospace engineering department, known for its cutting-edge research and distinguished faculty.
Outgoing president of Auburn University’s Design, Build, Fly team, Meagan Blosser, puts the final touches on her team’s plane before flying its first mission at the AIAA Design, Build, Fly competition in Wichita, Kansas in April.

#GINNing Podcast: DBF's BFF
6/21/24 8:00 AM

Meagan Blosser, outgoing president of Auburn University's Top-20 Design, Build, Fly team, doesn't care how you pronounce her name, because this new Auburn aerospace engineering alumna definitely knows how to... go with the flow.
Auburn Engineering’s graduate programs continued its upward trajectory in the annual rankings among public institutions, climbing 10 spots in the past five years.

Auburn Engineering graduate programs No. 31 among public institutions
6/18/24 7:40 AM

Auburn Engineering’s graduate programs were ranked No. 5 overall in the Southeastern Conference and, again, No. 1 in the state.
photo of Shelby Center on Auburn's campus

Eight innovative projects receive 2024 internal awards
6/11/24 11:00 AM

External NewsEight innovative projects have been named recipients of Auburn University’s internal research and creative works funding awards programs for 2024.

man types on an advanced manufacturing machine

Auburn expands support for advanced manufacturing
6/11/24 9:00 AM

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering will create an Analytical, Innovation and Manufacturing Laboratory to specifically foster workforce development, interdisciplinary collaboration and industry-relevant research and innovation aimed broadly at advanced manufacturing.
Nek Sharan, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, seeks to understand how 3D geometries vibrate when exposed to fluid flows.

Aerospace engineering assistant professor to study flow-induced vibration
5/30/24 8:30 AM

Nek Sharan, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, seeks to understand how 3D geometries vibrate when exposed to fluid flows.

David, who joined the Auburn faculty in 2012, has served as an assistant professor, associate professor and was recently promoted to the rank of full professor.

David named associate dean for research
5/29/24 7:45 AM

Allan David has been named associate dean for research for Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, according to an announcement by Dean Mario Eden.
Pictured is the Auburn University Design, Build, Fly team that achieved a top-20 finish at the AIAA Design, Build, Fly competition in Wichita, Kansas, in April.

Auburn DBF team has top-20 finish in AIAA Design Build Fly Competition
5/14/24 8:15 AM

Auburn University’s Design, Build, Fly (DBF) program's goal was to compete in Wichita, Kansas. They succeeded — not only competing — but earning a top-20 international finish and being the top school in the Southeastern Conference. 

Ava Grelli

#GINNing Podcast: The Great Grelli
5/10/24 7:45 AM

With yet another internship locked up at Lockheed Martin, Jersey born aerospace aficionado Ava Grelli is going places — and Boeing places. So, buckle up and get your ears on because this rocket retriever overachiever is racing toward space at a breakneck pace. 
Nek Sharan (left) and Vrishank Raghav (right), both aerospace engineering faculty, pose for a photo outside on Auburn University’s campus.

Aerospace engineering faculty earn DOD project to study rotor performance
5/6/24 10:00 AM

Nek Sharan, an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, and Vrishank Raghav, an associate professor of aerospace engineering are one of the 27 collaborative academic teams awarded research projects through the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) program.
Pictured is the Shelby Center for Engineering Technology on Auburn's campus.

Graduate School honors 28 students from Auburn Engineering
4/30/24 9:45 AM

More than 20 engineering graduate students were recognized at the annual Auburn University Graduate School awards ceremony, Friday, April 26, in the Melton Student Center Ballroom.

More than 220 sixth- through 12th-graders answered these questions – and more — via poster presentations on April 13, and competed for nearly $15,000 in prizes, at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair at Auburn University.

Auburn Engineering among co-sponsors at STEM state fair
4/29/24 12:00 PM

More than 220 sixth- through 12th-graders answered these questions – and more — via poster presentations on April 13, and competed for nearly $15,000 in prizes, at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair at Auburn University.

The Auburn Alumni Engineering Council was established in 1965 and is a group of Auburn Engineering alumni who work together to support the vision and goals of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Auburn Alumni Engineering Council inducts Class of 2029
4/23/24 7:45 AM

The Auburn Alumni Engineering Council inducted seven new members during its annual spring meeting April 19 in the Brown-Kopel Center.
The Space Force flag was recently raised over the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus. Space Development Agency, a unit of Space Force, recently partnered with Auburn University.

Space Development Agency partners with AU Research and Innovation Campus
4/11/24 10:22 AM

Auburn University is making space for the Space Development Agency (SDA). Located just outside Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, the new Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus (AURIC) is set to become a base of technical support operations for the SDA, the sole arm of the United States Space Force operating in the state of Alabama.
Auburn University Provost Vini Nathan recently announced the names of faculty awarded promotion, tenure or both for 2024, including 19 faculty in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Auburn Engineering faculty named to 2024 promotion, tenure list
4/8/24 1:00 PM

Auburn University Provost Vini Nathan recently announced the names of faculty awarded promotion, tenure or both for 2024, including 19 faculty in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.
Davide Guzzetti, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, poses for a photo on Auburn University’s campus.

Aerospace engineering assistant professor earns NASA Early Career Award
4/3/24 1:30 PM

Davide Guzzetti, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, has earned a NASA Early Career Faculty award to research how to remediate the accumulation of smaller pieces of orbital debris that are hard to track due to their size.

Vinamra Agrawal, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, shows his research that helped earn him a NSF CAREER award to study stable nanocrystalline alloys and their performance in harsh environments.

Aerospace Engineering assistant professor earns NSF CAREER award
4/3/24 8:00 AM

Vinamra Agrawal, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is studying stable nanocrystalline alloys and their performance in harsh environments — typical of space missions — to determine whether they are viable candidates for materials for structural components.

Joseph Pelfrey, director the NASA Marshall Flight Center, was keynote speaker at the Graduate Engineering Research Showcase in Huntsville on March 26.

Graduate research showcase highlights innovations in space exploration
3/28/24 8:55 AM

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering held its annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase on Tuesday, March 26, at the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville. This year’s showcase theme was “Pursuing the Space Frontier.”

Members of the Auburn University Rocketry Association (AURA) pose for a photo with Alie Ana, Mila and Alexandra Reese, who are six-year-old identical triplets and a Miracle Family The Alabama Children's Hospital Foundation. Jackson Miller (left) is the testing lead for AURA, Suzie Feist (middle) is the outreach lead for AURA and Will Shipman (right) is the AURA president.

Auburn rocketry team visits Children's of Alabama
3/14/24 9:00 AM

Members of the Auburn University Rocketry Association (AURA) visited Children's of Alabama in Birmingham with subscale rockets, model rockets and golf balls for kids to paint.

Cyrus Lloyd

#GINNing Podcast: Makerspace Maestro
2/9/24 11:00 AM

Parabolic telescopes... diamond-turning lathes...  few folks have taken advantage of Auburn Engineering's state-of-the-art Design and Innovation Center like aerospace engineering senior Cyrus Lloyd.
Auburn University alumnus Joseph Pelfrey has been named the director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Aerospace alumnus named director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
2/5/24 12:30 PM

Auburn University alumnus Joseph Pelfrey has been named the director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Pelfrey, who earned his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering in 2000, will manage one of NASA's largest field installations in this role.

Kanak Parmar

#GINNing Podcast: Freeing Up Space
2/2/24 12:00 PM

Look, someone has to lessen the load on NASA's Deep Space Network. And Kanak Parmar is just the aerospace engineering doctoral student to do it.
Joseph Majdalani receives the Wyld Propulsion medal and a citation certificate from Rusty Powell, AIAA Director for Propulsion and Energy, at the SciTech Forum on Jan. 10, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.

Majdalani receives international Wyld Propulsion Award
1/31/24 1:00 PM

Joseph Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University, has received the 2024 Wyld Propulsion Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Aerospace associate professor Vrishank Raghav (left) stands with aerospace postdoctoral researcher Arun Nair (center) and doctoral student Abbishek Gururaj (right) to study the R3DV facility, used to measure the rotor blades of flight vehicles — such as helicopters, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), and Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOLs) aircraft — when hovering.

Aerospace associate professor awarded DOD grant for instrumentation
1/30/24 12:00 PM

Vrishank Raghav, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is among 281 researchers nationwide awarded a Department of Defense grant under the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP).
Front row, Left to right: Mike Patterson, Joe Majdalani, Imon Chakraborty, David Sharp, Roy Hartfield and Alan Lowrey. Second row: Lisa Mitchell, Todd May, Andrew Keys (AIAA GHS Vice-Chair) and Jeff Haars.

Aerospace engineering faculty honored by AIAA Greater Huntsville Section
1/23/24 1:00 PM

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering was well-represented at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Greater Huntsville Section Associate Fellow Recognition Dinner on Dec. 18. One Auburn engineering alumnus was inducted into the 2024 class of Associate Fellows, and one faculty member was recognized for making the 2023 class. Additionally, two faculty members were acknowledged at the dinner for their national recognitions earlier in the year.

Maggie Nelson is Auburn University's first Churchill Scholarship recipient.

Aerospace engineering student wins prestigious Churchill Scholarship
1/22/24 1:30 PM

Nelson, a senior from Birmingham in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is headed to Churchill College at the University of Cambridge this fall to work toward her MPhil in materials science and metallurgy.

Entrants must record a video presentation using animation, simulation, diagrams, pictures, or even demonstrations explaining an overview of their respective study, but at a level where general audiences can understand. Each video must not exceed 60 seconds.

Registration under way for AUSome Science in 60 Seconds
1/19/24 2:30 PM

Last spring’s AUsome Science in 60 Seconds research pitch competition was so successful, Auburn Engineering is hosting it again.
The single largest prime research contract ever awarded to Auburn University is designed to help the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center boost its increasing modernization efforts.

Auburn secures $50M Army research grant — the largest in AU history
1/10/24 12:00 PM

How much is Auburn University's advanced manufacturing expertise worth to the U.S. Army? Up to $50 million.
Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts, Walt and Virginia Woltosz, College of Human Sciences Dean Susan Hubbard and ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff.

Aerospace engineering alumnus among those honored at International Quality of Life Awards
12/5/23 10:00 AM

Ginger and Walt Woltosz recognized in College of Human Sciences annual event in New York City.
Kanak Parmar, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering, won the Molly K. Macauley Award for the science/engineering category from the American Astronautical Society.

Aerospace doctoral student wins Molly K. Macauley Award
11/30/23 3:00 PM

Parmar, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering in Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, shared her vision during a presentation at the American Astronautical Society (AAS) von Braun Space Exploration Symposium in Huntsville on Oct. 27 after receiving the Molly K. Macauley Award for the science/engineering category.
Joe Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering delivers the von Kármán plenary at ASCEND on Oct. 23, at the Ceasars Forum in Las Vegas.

Majdalani delivers 2023 von Kármán Lecture
11/30/23 1:30 PM

Joe Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, recently delivered the 2023 von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics, a prestigious lectureship hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

two men talking, rocket with blue origin written on it, American flag

Auburn alum at Blue Origin working to launch one of world’s tallest rockets
10/25/23 7:00 AM

Monk is a director on the New Glenn mission management team at Blue Origin, the aerospace manufacturer founded by Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos. He graduated from Auburn with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 2005 and earned a master’s at the University of Colorado a year later. He immediately joined NASA’s Constellation program, working to develop the rockets and spacecraft needed to replace the retiring fleet of space shuttles. When the program was canceled in 2011, Monk had mixed feelings.
Ryan Pollard won first place for oral presentation, honorable mention for poster presentation and Best in Show overall.

Student in mechanical engineering wins Best in Show at research showcase
10/16/23 9:40 AM

Ryan Pollard, a first-year graduate student, earned 'Best in Show' honors for his oral and poster presentation, "A Kinematics-Based Approach to Future Joint Angle Prediction."
The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering's newly launched pilot program aims to help students take their engineering career to the Next Level.

Next Level program aims to develop career skills in students
9/28/23 10:00 AM

The College of Engineering's newly launched pilot program, titled Next Level, aims to enhance career preparedness and to improve first destination satisfaction by focusing on formative career development in the classroom.

Emmanuel Winful, right, is the college's health and safety manager.

Auburn Engineering named Green Cross Award semifinalist
9/25/23 8:20 AM

College recognized for advocating transformational research that doesn't push the boundaries of safety.
The 11th annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase offers $8,250 in prizes.

Almost 200 registered for annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase
9/21/23 8:00 AM

Students will exchange ideas, hypotheses and fresh concepts between one another and faculty judges on Thursday, October 12.
The 2023 Auburn Alumni Engineering Council award winners included Distinguished Auburn Engineer Ed Yeilding, ’72 electrical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Pam Boyd, ’92 electrical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Richard Kretzschmar, ’90 and ’96 aerospace engineering; Outstanding Young Auburn Engineer Rodmesia Clarke, ’08 chemical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Metrick Houser, ’93 chemical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Mike Ogles, ’89 mechanical engineering, represented by his son Will Ogles; Outstanding Young Auburn Engineer Brandon Young, ’10 electrical engineering; Outstanding Young Auburn Engineer Christa Musgrove, ’07 mechanical engineering; and Superior Service Steve Duke, chemical engineering associate professor and the college’s former associate dean for academics.

Auburn Alumni Engineering Council honors 9 with college’s highest awards
9/18/23 1:30 PM

Eight outstanding engineering alumni and one longtime faculty member of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering were honored by the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council during a ceremony Friday, Sept. 15, for their distinguished professional careers.

Auburn Engineering's undergraduate programs rank No. 3 among public institutions in the Southeastern Conference and No. 1 in the state.

Auburn Engineering undergraduate programs receive No. 30 public ranking
9/18/23 12:00 PM

Auburn Engineering's undergraduate programs climbed three spots in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Auburn Engineering professors Fa Foster Dai, J. David Irwin and Bruce Tatarchuk have been recognized as NAI fellows, while professor Jin Wang is an NAI senior member.

AU ranked by National Academy of Inventors among Top 100 U.S. universities granted utility patents
9/14/23 7:00 AM

Auburn innovators earned 12 new patents in 2022
Ayden Kemp

#GINNing Podcast: The Scholar
9/8/23 11:00 AM

Listen to Ayden Kemp, one of Auburn Engineering's two latest Goldwater Scholars, discuss how his 5th-grade trip to Disneyland inspired a unique educational journey only one engineering school could provide.

What can we learn from the movie iRobot, where human-like machines performed tasks and became a threat?

Artificial intelligence-themed film festival kicks off Tuesday, August 29
8/22/23 3:00 PM

Viewers will have the opportunity to view five movies, then learn from an Auburn University professor about what they witnessed and how it can be applied today… and tomorrow.
Ashley Gann

#GINNing Podcast: Yes We Gann
8/11/23 10:00 AM

Ashley Gann used her 2005 Auburn aerospace engineering degree to shatter meteorology's glass ceiling in the state of Alabama. Learn how she did it — and why she believes STEM is the key to helping other women reach their full professional potential — on the latest episode of the award-winning #GINNing Podcast.

Vrishank Raghav is director of Auburn University's Applied Fluids Research Group.

Professor uses bio-inspired surface textures to ensure smooth flight
7/27/23 12:40 PM

Study is part of a three-year, $600,000 Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research grant.
Harry Coker is a former NSA and CIA executive and veteran Naval officer.

Senior Fellow of McCrary Institute nominated for National Cyber Director
7/26/23 7:00 AM

If confirmed by the Senate, Harry Coker would advise the President of the United States on cybersecurity strategy and policy, working out of the White House and leading the Office of the National Cyber Director.
Seven students representing four engineering disciplines were awarded Department of Defense SMART scholarships this year.

Seven Auburn Engineering students awarded DoD SMART scholarships
7/13/23 11:00 AM

Emma Akozbek, Seth Markum, Rehman Qureshi, Alton Stoute, Dayton Malone, Mason Holtcamp, and Chase Hittle will receive tuition for up to five years, mentorship, summer internships, a stipend and full-time employment with the Department of Defense after graduation through the scholarship.

Team members representing the VSDDL are, from left, Rajan Bhandari, Anthony Comer, Assistant Professor Imon Chakraborty and Stefanus Harris Putra.

VSDDL wins Vertical Flight Society international competition
7/7/23 9:15 AM

Three graduate students in Imon Chakraborty's laboratory designed, built and flew the winning vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Ayden Kemp

Senior in aerospace, biosystems awarded ASF scholarship
6/26/23 10:00 AM

Ayden Kemp dreams of developing and maintaining life support systems for manned spaceflight so humanity can one day establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and on Mars.
Yaeji Kim is a member of the Auburn University Space Technology Applications Research lab.

Asteroid named after aerospace engineering student
6/23/23 2:00 PM

Yaeji Kim was among six Auburn students honored at the recent Asteroids, Comets, Meteors Conference in Flagstaff, Arizona
Roy Hartfield, right, has devoted a 30-plus year career to the study of aerodynamics, propulsion, statistical analysis of air vehicles, and aircraft research.

Professor in aerospace engineering presented with AIAA Aerodynamics Award
6/20/23 11:05 AM

Roy Hartfield, Walt and Virginia Woltosz Professor of Aerospace Engineering, is dedicated to making an impact on industry and students.
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