Criteria for the award state that recipients must have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service or other endeavors that reflects the value of an aerospace engineering degree.  This celebration gives us a special opportunity to have our students interact with the best possible role models.

“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," said Tom Shih, School head.

This year's recipients were:

Douglas L. Bowers, BSAAE'72 - Technical Director, Propulsion Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Mark A. Burgess, BSAAE'78, MSAAE'79 - Chief Engineer, Boeing Research & Technology/Engineering Operations & Technology

Joel C. Gentz, BSAAE'07 (posthumously) - First Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force

James R. Miller, BSAAE'86 - Vice President, Worldwide Operations, Google, Inc.

Leo Millstein, BSAAE'70 - Chief Counsel, BAE Systems, Technology Solutions & Services Inc.

Jamie Renna, BSAAE'86 - Vice President, Engineering Safety, Test and Evaluation, Sikorsky Aircraft

Matthew P. Szolwinski, BSAAE'93, MSAAE'95, Ph.D'98 - Chief Engineer and Manager, GEnx Systems Engineering, GE Aviation

Photos L~R Professor Emeritus 'Gus' Gustafson, Larry Cargino and George Palmer, Dr. Allen S. Novick OAE'06, Dr. Matthew Szolwinski, Mark Burgess, Leo Millstein, James Miller, Kathryn Gentz - widow of Joel Gentz, Douglas Bowers, Dr. Tom Shih, Jamie Renna, John Rich OAE'01, Ronnie Miller OAE' 03 and Andrew Simo OAE'07.

More details about each individual can be found on the link below.