The Purdue University designation Outstanding Aerospace Engineer recognizes the professional contributions of graduates from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics and thanks them for the recognition that their success brings to Purdue and the School. Eight graduates of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics were honored with the School's highest honor at the 14th annual Outstanding Aerospace Engineers Award on September 28, 2012 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, West Lafayette, IN.

AAE Assistant Professor Michael D. Sangid was one of four recipients chosen for the 2013 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), Structural Materials Division (SMD) Young Professional Development Award. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign in 2010 and joined our School in 2011

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has announced the 2013 AIAA Fellows and Honorary Fellows. AAE alumnus William H. Gerstenmaier has been named as Honorary Fellow, with AAE faculty members Dr. Stephen D. Heister and Dr. Kathleen C. Howell, along with AAE alumni Frank H. Bauer and James D. Raisbeck being named as Fellow.

Dr. Al Novick, AAE's distinguished alumnus (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from AAE) and our school's honorary industry professor, passed away on Dec. 8, 2012.

Kimberly (Chalmers) Hicks BSAAE'06, Kent, WA, was named Young Engineer of the Year by the Puget Sound Engineering Council. She was nominated by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

AAE's 35th & Purdue's 47th team has been selected to fly in summer 2013 in NASA's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, or RGSFOP. They are part of Prof. Steven Collicott's unique design-build-test class AAE418 - Zero-Gravity Flight Experiment class.

Sigma Gamma Tau, the National Aerospace Engineering Honor Society,recognizes Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Grant, as the December 2012 recipient of the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Award

As one of the lead institutions for the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Transportation Center of Excellence for general aviation, Purdue hosted the kick-off meeting on November 6 – 7, 2012 for Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability (PEGASAS)

Sigma Gamma Tau, the National Aerospace Engineering Honor Society,recognizes AAE Undergraduate Secretary Lisa Crain as the November 2012 recipient of the Faculty and Staff Appreciation Award