As aerospace professionals, we have devoted our lives to understanding what many people believe is unknowable. We pursue the undiscoverable. We work in the uninhabitable. We ponder the indecipherable. Dream the impossible. Chase the unattainable.
And in the end, we routinely accomplish the unimaginable. We unravel the mysteries of flight and space, constantly finding new ways of showing gravity who’s boss.
But if our work is to continue, we must also ignite the imagination of people outside the profession, convincing them that the things we learn, and the things we create, are important. That daily life is better because of them.
And that is our reason for being at AIAA. To foster an environment that helps our members succeed. Where their work can be enriched, acknowledged, and advanced. To that end, we provide an intellectual meeting place where ideas can be exchanged among members in industry, government, and academia. Where partnerships can be formed. And global collaboration can thrive.
At AIAA, we celebrate our members’ ingenuity and achievements, from the small but brilliantly simple to the complex missions that alter the course of human existence. We lay the groundwork for future advances by creating an atmosphere that inspires innovation. And we help the world to understand the need for it.
We provide continuity and camaraderie for our members, wherever their careers may take them. And we ensure their adaptability in an ever-changing industry.
We provide a launching pad for emerging professionals. And a welcoming atmosphere for students pursuing careers in aerospace.
At AIAA, we work hard to make sure that aerospace professionals are recognized for their contributions in making the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous. And we prove every day that with enough support, enough intellectual stimulation and enough collaboration, nothing is impossible.
Our purpose and our goal is to fuel our members’ imaginations. To support their ambitions. And to inspire the rest of the world to do what has always come naturally to us.

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To dream.
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The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the principal society and voice serving the aerospace profession. Its purpose is to advance the arts, sciences, and technology of aeronautics and astronautics and to foster and promote the professionalism of those engaged in these pursuits. Founded and based in the United
States, AIAA is a global organization with nearly 31,000 individual professional members, thousands of customers worldwide, and an active international outreach. AIAA is the world's largest professional society devoted to the progress of engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. The Institute continues to be the principal voice, information resource, and publisher for aerospace engineers, scientists, managers, policymakers, students, and educators. The AIAA is the U.S. representative on the International Astronautical Federation and the
International Council on the Aeronautical Sciences.
Founded as the Alabama Section of the American Rocket Society in
1952, the current Greater Huntsville Section of the AIAA works to provide a professional forum for the local aerospace community. The
Greater Huntsville Section is one of the largest in the AIAA with approximately 1000 members representing industry, government, and academia. The Section operates year-round, conducting lunch or dinner events with guest speakers, offering continuing education opportunities, and providing a means for professional recognition within the aerospace field. Information is provided through e-mail, our website, and various social media outlets. Annual activities include
Engineers Week, Science Fair Judging, Sponsorship of the Regional
Student Conference & College Scholarships, presentation of awards for the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge at the US Space & Rocket
Center, and playing an integral role in the aerospace community through events including NASA on the Square, the Space and Missile
Defense Symposium, International Drone Day, and this year the 7 th
Annual NRO CubeSat Technical Interchange Meeting. Look for even more exciting events in the coming year.

The Greater Huntsville Section mourned the passing of a great member of our professional community last year. He will be missed.
50 Year Member
Victor S. Grimes, Jr.
40 Year Members
Ray S. Applebaum
John E. Burkhalter
Dr. Lanier S. Cauley
Dr. Basil P. Cooper
Lt. Col. John O. Lassiter
G. Alan Lowrey
Dr. Mark Seaford
Don E. Simpson
Mr. Frederick I. Ordway III
1927 – 2014
2015 Membership Anniversaries
25 Year Members
Dr. William J. Coirier
Darby G. Cooper
William E. Dietz
Jeffrey L. Finckenor
Dr. James V. French
Dr. James P. Hubner
Joseph A. Huwaldt
Stephen L. Johnson
Dr. Mohammad J. Khan
Michael A. Lawler
James R. Meehan
Lee A. Miller
Prof. Masoud Rais-Rohani
Julie A. Ray
Joel W. Robinson
Dr. Mark L. Underwood
Peter G. Valentine
Joseph Marc Verhage
Dr. David L. Williams, II

5:00 Registration, Social & Poster Session
6:15 Welcome ............................................... Dr. Kurt Polzin, Vice Chair
Presentation of the Colors ................ Butler High School AFJROTC
National Anthem
Invocation ........................................................... Mr. Neal Allgood
Toast and Dinner ..................................................... Dr. Kurt Polzin
7:00 Invited Speaker ........................................ Mr. Richard P. De Fatta
“Current and Future SMDC Technical Center Efforts”
7:50 Awards Program......................................... Emcee, Dr. Kurt Polzin

Recognition of Essay Contest Winners

Recognition of Science Fair Awardees

Robert L. Sackheim Scholarship Award

AIAA Special Service Citation

AIAA Sustained Service Award

AIAA Engineer of the Year

Section Awards ......................... Mr. Kenneth Philippart, Chair
- Ed Pruett Young Professional of the Year Award
- Earl Pearce Professional of the Year Award
- Konrad Dannenberg Educator of the Year Award
- Martin Schilling Award
- Holger Toftoy Award
- Hermann Oberth Award
8:25 Section Council Installation ....................... Mr. Kenneth Philippart

Recognition of Past Council and Year In Review

New Section Officers and Directors

Presentation of Section Chairperson’s Plaque

Incoming Chairperson Remarks
8:45 Retrieval of colors ............................. Butler High School AFJROTC
Adjourn ................................................................... Dr. Kurt Polzin

Freshly Baked Rolls with Butter
Mixed Greens Salad with House Dressing
Pre-reserved
USDA Prime Sirloin (8oz) Grilled to Perfection and
Served with Roasted Garlic Butter
Atlantic Salmon Coated in Fresh Herbs and Baked.
Served with Warm Tomato Relish
Vegetarian Moussaka (Layers of Eggplant, Peppers, Onions,
Tomatoes & Zucchini Topped with a Creamy Béchamel Sauce)
All Entrees Served with Seasonal Vegetable and
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Chocolate Layer Cake
Iced Tea, Water, Coffee
Soft Drinks, Beer, Wine and Cocktails for Purchase

Dr. John Fay, Jacobs TEAS Team
July 7, 2014, Lunch & Learn Speaker
‘Selected Problems in Dynamics: Stability of Spinning Body
& Derivation of Lagrange Points’
Rep. Mo Brooks, Alabama’s 5 th Congressional District
August 21, 2014, Luncheon Speaker
‘Washington Update’
John Dankanich, NASA-MSFC
September 15, 2014, Luncheon Speaker
‘The Iodine Satellite: Enabling SmallSat Maneuverability’
Dr. Michael Houts, NASA-MSFC
October 30, 2014, Luncheon Speaker
‘Space Fission Power and Propulsion’
Col. Gary S. Baker, U.S. Air Force (ret)
November 20, 2014, Luncheon Speaker
‘Wings Over Vietnam: Flying AC-47s (Fire Dragon) as an Advisor Pilot for the Vietnamese Air Force’
Greater Huntsville Section Pumpkin Blast Team
December 15, 2014, Luncheon Speakers
‘Aerodynamics of Pumpkins in Low Atmospheric Flight’
Dr. Dale Thomas, NASA-MSFC
January 23, 2015, Associate Fellow Recognition Event
‘State of the Center’
Mike Bangham, Bangham Engineering
March 4, 2015, Luncheon Speaker
‘Understanding Launch Vehicle Explosions’
Dr. Linda Krause, NASA-MSFC
March 9, 2015, Luncheon Speaker
‘Sun-to-Mud Space Weather and Effects: A Whirlwind Tour’
John London, USASMDC/ARSTRAT
April 23, 2015, Luncheon Speaker
‘SMDC Space Initiatives’

Officers
Chair – Dr. Kurt Polzin
Vice-Chair – Brandon Stiltner
Secretary – Tia Ferguson
Treasurer – Darby Cooper
Directors
Membership – Roger Herdy
Education – Jesse Jones
Public Policy – Robert La Branche
Young Professionals &
Career Enhancement – Cody Crofford
Honors & Awards – Sheree Gay
Technical – John Lassiter
Pre-College Outreach – Megan Beattie
Liaison to Student Branches – Neal Allgood
Supernumerary – Dr. Keith Koenig
Immediate Past Chair – Kenneth Philippart
Region II Director – Dr. Mark Whorton
E-Mail Coordinator – Todd Honeycutt
Webmaster – Dr. Arloe Mayne
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW

Acting Director, Technical Center - USASMDC / ARSTRAT
“ Current and Future SMDC Technical Center Efforts ”
Richard P. De Fatta is presently with U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense
Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT), where he serves as Acting Director of SMDC’s Technical Center. He retired from the Army as a
Colonel in 2005, having received the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
(two oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Army
Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, Army
Staff Identification Badge, and Parachutist Badge. He spent more than seven years in senior contractor positions providing systems engineering, integration, test, program management, and technical support to Department of Defense programs responsible for the development, production, and fielding of missile defense weapon systems before joining USASMDC/ARSTRAT in 2013. In September 2013,
Mr. De Fatta became the Director of Emerging Technology Directorate, Technical
Center, USASMDC/ARSTRAT, developing technology and providing support in the areas of directed energy, interceptors, research and advanced concepts, and Nuclear
Arms Control Treaty.
Mr. De Fatta graduated in 1978 from the U.S. Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in engineering and later earned a Master of Science in engineering physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in systems management from the Florida Institute of Technology. He attended the
U.S. Army War College and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. A member of the Army Acquisition Corps since its inception, he completed the
Executive, Advanced, and Military Acquisition Management courses, and is level
III certified in program management.

Dr. William J. Emrich
Dr. N. Jan Davis
Mr. Thomas E. Hannigan, III
Dr. J. Mark Janus
Mr. Tracy L. Lamm
Dr. Michael R. LaPointe
Ms. Dawn R. Phillips
Dr. Rani W. Sullivan
Dr. Arloe Mayne
Mr. Neal Allgood
Mr. Michael Dunning
Greater Huntsville Section
Activity: National Engineers Week, Ram Ramachandran,
Chair
Greater Huntsville Section, Ram Ramachandran,
Chair

Pre-College Outreach – Megan Beattie
Liaison to Student Branches – Neal Allgood
Supernumerary – Dr. Keith Koenig
E-Mail Coordinator – Todd Honeycutt
Webmaster – Arloe Mayne
Liaisons
Region II Director – Gordon A. (Alan) Lowrey
AIAA Region & Section Programs Director – Chris Jessee
Student Branch Faculty Advisors
Alabama A&M University – Dr. Zhengtao (ZT) Deng
Athens State University – Dr. J. Wayne McCain
Auburn University – Dr. Joseph Majdalani
Mississippi State University – Mr. Thomas E. Hannigan
University of Alabama – Dr. James P. Hubner
University of Alabama in Huntsville – Dr. D. Brian Landrum
University of Mississippi – Dr. Nathan E. Murray
Tuskegee University – Dr. Mohammed J. (Javed) Khan
We are always recruiting new, dynamic members to participate in our various activities and to shape future plans.
Be a part of the AIAA team! https://hsv-aiaa.org

Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF)
Hayden Burch , 9 th grade at Auburn Junior High School, Auburn. Project title:
“ Evaluation of a Novel Wind Energy Capture Device – The Wind Wing ”
Kennedy MacDonald , 11 th grade at Davidson High School, Mobile. Project title: “ Flying Boats? Using Aerodynamics to Increase Efficiency of
Hydrodynamics: Part 2”
Maya Cassady , 8th grade at Indian Springs School, Indian Springs Village.
Project title: “ Surface Ages of Planetary Bodies ”
Ben Calvert , 8 th grade winner. Essay title: “ Future Space Travel ”
Isaac Haynes , 7 th grade winner. Essay title: “ A Trip through Our Solar System ”
Chair – Kenneth Philippart
Officers
Vice-Chair – Dr. Kurt Polzin
Secretary – Tia Ferguson
Treasurer – Darby Cooper
Directors
Membership – Roger Herdy
Education – Carla Shackelford
Public Policy – Allison Cash
Honors and Awards – John Dankanich
Career Enhancement &
Young Professionals – Cody Crawford
Technical – John Lassiter

Ed Pruett Young Professional of the Year Award
In recognition of a member of 35 years of age or younger who has demonstrated extraordinary technical skill and dedication in the
Aerospace Engineering profession, the 2015 Award is presented to:
Mr. Allgood is in the Unmanned Systems and
Aerodynamics Branch at Dynetics, Inc., performing modeling and simulation, hardware design and fabrication, payload integration, flight test coordination, and aircraft performance analysis. He is an instructor for a Dynetics course entitled "Introduction to UAV Systems:
Components, Construction, and Control," participates on the Dynetics-sponsored DARPA UAVForge competition team, and has supported numerous aerospace events in the community, including International Drone Day and the NASA Human
Exploration Rover Challenge. Neal is the AIAA Greater Huntsville Section Liaison to Student Branches. Neal has a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn
University and a MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University.
Earl Pearce Professional of the Year Award
In recognition of extraordinary dedication, creativity, and leadership while engaged in professional work or activity within the aerospace community, the 2015 Award is presented to:
Mr. Jozefiak has over 30 years of aerospace engineering experience as a government contractor. His experience includes systems engineering, project management, launch vehicle processing and operations, satellite processing and operations, test execution, and years of field experience. He has worked on the Atlas/Centaur and Titan IV launch vehicles and Space Shuttle. Since moving to Huntsville in 2000, he has been supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). He has worked in a number of MDA elements, and is currently a senior test engineer supporting flight and ground tests for experimental technologies. He has a BS in
Mechanical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology, an MA in
Management from the University of Redlands, and an MS in Systems
Architecture and Engineering from the University of Southern California.

The award is named for the Section's founding president, Dr. Martin
Schilling. In recognition of outstanding service to the Section, such as major contributions to its growth, technical programs, or administrative functions, the 2015 Award is presented to:
Mr. Philippart is the 2014-15 AIAA Greater Huntsville
Section Chairperson and the Bevilacqua Research Corp.
Sub-Element Lead for SLS RS-25 Propulsion System
Design, Analysis and Test. Previously, Ken served 29 years in the U.S. Air Force as a technology development leader and acquisition program manager. Assignments included the AFRPL, 91st Strategic Missile Wing, AFRL
Propulsion Directorate, NAIC, MSIC, NATO Regional
Headquarters Allied Forces North Europe, AFSPC
Requirements Directorate and the Space Situational Awareness Integration
Office. He deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq. He retired from the
Air Force as a Lt. Colonel, having received the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf
Cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 Campaign Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the
NATO Non-Article 5 Medal, the Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border for combat zone service. He is an AIAA Associate Fellow. He has a MS in
Aerospace Engineering from Penn State University, a MS in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the
University of Michigan. Ken is also a distinguished graduate of Air War College.

This $1000 scholarship, named for the late industry giant and Section member
Bob Sackheim, promotes careers in the aerospace industry by encouraging students to pursue a related engineering or science degree. Candidates must be high school seniors living within the Greater Huntsville Section area (comprising of the State of Alabama and most counties in Mississippi), entering an accredited university in the Greater Huntsville Section area, and pursuing a degree in engineering, the sciences, or mathematics, to bolster the future of the aeronautics and astronautics industries.
Paul Last, the recipient of the 2015 Robert L. Sackheim Engineering &
Science Scholarship, is a senior at The Way Home Christian School in Eva,
AL. Paul will be attending Auburn University in the fall and plans to major in aerospace engineering. While in high school, Paul participated in the Boy Scouts rising to the rank of Eagle Scout, 4-H, Trail Life USA, the Boys and Girls Club, and basketball. He was a volunteer for the local
Good Samaritan food bank, and was first in the State in Bible Drill.
North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NARSEF)
Hunter Phillips , 12 th grade at Covenant Christian Academy, Huntsville. Project title: “ Development of a Novel Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: Nanoscale
Transverse Tilt-rotor Helicopter ”
Michael Prevost
11 th grade at Covenant Christian Academy, Huntsville.
Project title: “ Design and Construction of a Scalable Active Battery
Management System for Electric and Hybird Electric Vehicles”

MG Holger Toftoy Prof. Hermann Oberth

Konrad Dannenberg was a German-American rocket pioneer who was an avid proponent of education in the community, an active AIAA member and an inspiration to the Aerospace Community. In recognition of outstanding service to education and promotion of math and science within the community, the 2015 Award is presented to:
Dr. Thurow is the W. Allen and Martha Reed Associate
Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University. He received his B.S. (1999), M.S.
(2001) and Ph.D. (2005) from The Ohio State
University, and established the Advanced Flow
Diagnostics Laboratory at Auburn University in 2005.
Dr. Thurow has taught classes in aerodynamics, propulsion, dynamics, light field imaging, optical diagnostics, flow imaging, compressible fluid dynamics and turbulence. He has served his department as the AIAA Faculty Advisor,
Graduate Program Officer and is a strong advocate for undergraduate student involvement in research, resulting in numerous research paper awards for undergraduate students under his supervision. At the college level, Dr. Thurow is the founding chair of the graduate student recruitment and fellowship committee, which established a new fellowship and recruitment program in the college and he is the founding faculty advisor for the council of engineering graduate students. His research program has focused on the development of high repetition rate (order 1 MHz) optical diagnostics for turbulent flow measurements and, more recently, the development of plenoptic camera technology for 3-D flow visualization. His research has been sponsored by the
Army Research Office and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, both of which started with Young Investigator Program grants, as well as the Office of Naval
Research and National Science Foundation. In addition to advanced optical diagnostics for fluid dynamic measurements, Dr. Thurow is also interested in aero-acoustics, aero-optics, flow control, turbulence and compressible flows.
Dr. Thurow has received numerous awards including the SGA Outstanding
Faculty Member Award in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013; the AIAA Most
Outstanding Faculty Member Award in 2009, 2012 and 2013; the William F.
Walker Teaching Award for Excellence in 2009; the Auburn Alumni Engineering
Council Research Award for Excellence in 2009; and the Provost’s Award for
Supporting Graduate Scholarship in 2011..

In recognition of outstanding technical management in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics, the 2015 Award is presented to:
Joseph Cosumano, Jr. spent 36 years with the US
Army, rising to the rank of Lt. General. He was the program manager for National Missile Defense, the
Chief for US Army Force Modernization, and the
Director of the Objective Force Task Force responsible for developing the requirements, technology and resources for the Army in the 21st century. From 2001-2004 he was the commander of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, with operational responsibility to support war fighters in-theater and the additional responsibility to develop the space and missile defense programs needed to provide that support. His military decorations include the Defense
Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters. He has earned the Parachutist Badge,
Army Aviator Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Identification Badge and Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.
Since retiring from the Army, LTG Cosumano has held several senior executive positions, greatly improve the quality and value of every company with which he has been associated. From 2004-2005, he was Sr. VP of Strategy and
Business Development responsible for the company's post-Space Shuttle strategy that included support of the NASA ARES program and the Navy and Air
Force ICBM upgrade programs. From 2005-2008 he was Sr. VP of Kellogg Brown and Root, which was on the brink of "default" on several DoD projects. Through his leadership he turned this into a “resurgent” organization that was applauded by government customers. From 2008-2011 he was President and
CEO of Agility Defense and Government Services, establishing the policies and procedures needed for a foreign-owned company to operate in the US Defense
Market. Since 2013, Mr. Cosumano has been President and CEO of CFD
Research Corp., applying the knowledge gained through high fidelity aerospace modeling to the field biomedical and bio-technical and biomedical fields.
He has a BS (1968) and MS (1970) in Industrial Technology. He is graduate of the Air Force Staff College (1981), the Defense Acquisition University Certified
Program Manager course (1986), the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
(1988) and the Executive Course of the Yale School of Management (1994).

In recognition of outstanding individual scientific achievement in the fields of astronautics and space sciences and the promotion and advancement of the aeronautical sciences, the 2015 Award is presented to:
Mr. Thomas J. "Jack" Lee received a BS degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Alabama in 1958, and completed the Advanced Management Program at the
Harvard School of Business in 1985.
Mr. Lee began his professional career in 1958 as an aeronautical research engineer with the U.S. Army Ballistic
Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. He transferred to the Marshall Center in 1960 as a systems engineer. From
1965 to 1969 he was chief of the Center's Saturn Program Resident Office at the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He became the Spacelab program manager in
1974 and after seven years was named the MSFC Deputy Director in 1980. From
1989-1994 he was the sixth Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center. In
January 1994, he became special assistant to the NASA Administrator for access to space, leading NASA’s effort to help define a technology program for the future to retain leadership in space.
Since his retirement from NASA, he has been heavily involved in aerospace engineering consulting for industry and government. He is founder and president of Lee & Associates, LLC, a consulting company in Huntsville, Alabama.
Mr. Lee has been honored with many awards. He is a Fellow of AIAA, a registered professional engineer, and was recognized by the University of
Alabama's College of Engineering as a Distinguished Engineering Fellow. He was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 1993. In June of 1993 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University of Alabama, Huntsville.
Mr. Lee has served in the past on the Habitat for Humanities Board of Directors:
President North Alabama Children’s Science Center Board of Directors
(SCIQUEST); Engineering Advisory Committee, University Of Alabama Huntsville;
Vice President and President of the US Space and Rocket Center Commission
Board of Directors; President of the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame Board of
Directors; and as President of the National Space Club, Huntsville.