Hello from the AIAA Sacramento Section!

Come meet your Colleagues and Friends at our upcoming social event and future planning meeting!

21 October 4:30 – 7:30pm
Fort Rock Brewing
Nimbus Winery Mall
12401 Folsom Blvd #110, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742

Special Guest of Honor: John Boyd, Aerojet Rocketdyne

John Boyd is a Senior Manager of ATF (Advanced Technology Facility) Structures and Dynamics at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Folsom. John specializes in structural analysis of solid rocket motors, filament-wound composites, and propellant nozzles. He has previously worked for Raytheon and Blue Origin. He will be available to answer your questions about his technical work or his career. 

Join us to discuss the AIAA Sacramento Section, explore leadership opportunities, plan upcoming section events, and meet new, like-minded people in the Sacramento Area. Students are welcome!

No RSVP Required. Appetizers Provided. No Host Bar. 

Flyer attached. Feel free to share and distribute! 

We hope to see you there! Bring others along with you if you wish!

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AIAA Sacramento Section

https://engage.aiaa.org/sacramento/home

Need a new portrait for LinkedIn or your website? Come have a professional portrait taken! Renee from Kettner & Grape Photography will be shooting head shots for us again this year. You can check out her work on her Instagram page.

When: Tuesday, October 20th, 2026 from 4pm-7pm

Where: River Park near the Fenton Parkway Trolley Station

Cost: $30 for non-members, $20 for members, $10 for students

Please sign up for a time slot after you purchase your ticket.

We’ll be set up in the park next to the Fenton Parkway Trolley Station. If you’re driving, please park in the River Park lot and DO NOT park at IKEA or the Mission Valley Public Library. They will tow quickly!

Water and sodas will be provided as well as a few chairs and blankets. Please bring your own or to share if you’d like to hang out and socialize for a bit!

Hello San Diego Aerospace Community,

Join the AIAA San Diego Section and like-minded aerospace enthusiasts for a night out at Fillippi’s Pizza Grotto in Scripps Ranch for some traditional Italian food while hearing from our own AIAA Member, Brandon Suarez, as he discusses challenges and opportunities with integrating autonomous aircraft into the national airspace system. Reliable Robotics has integrated an autonomous flight system into a fleet of Cessna 208 Caravans and are pursuing an updated type certificate to cover the autonomous piloting.

Date & Time: Friday, October 2nd, 2026 at 6:30 PM

Cost: $35 / $25 / $15 for non-members, members, and students. Your ticket covers admission to the technical talk as well as food/drink

Location: Filippi's Pizza Grotto (Scripps Ranch)

Link to Buy Tickets: https://square.link/u/IDfBUKRs

Speaker Bio: 

Brandon Suarez currently serves as Vice President for UAS Integration at Reliable Robotics where he will drive the development and adoption of technical standards and global aviation policy for the company. Brandon is Co-Chair of RTCA Special Committee 228, which is developing technical standards for UAS. He is also an advisor to the U.S. member of the ICAO RPAS Panel.

We hope to see you there!

Mt. Baker Room, Centerpoint Commons, 20819 72nd Ave S, Kent  ·  $35

Melissa Roth co-founded Off Planet Research, which manufactures lunar regolith simulant so companies can test hardware against real Moon dust before they fly it. She joins us for Seattle Space Week 2026, in collaboration with Space Northwest, to talk about shaping the space economy one batch of manufactured Moon dust at a time.

Doors at 11:30 a.m. Lunch included. Free parking.

Members save 15%.
Current AIAA members: enter promo code MemberDiscount at checkout.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1999134023680?aff=oddtdtcreator

7:00 p.m.  ·  Outer Planet Brewing, 1812 12th Ave Suite 100, Seattle  ·  Free

Space-themed questions, some pop culture, and a sprinkle of sci-fi for the nerdiest nerds. We will form one or two teams as needed, so come on your own and you will still have people to argue with.

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/jhfk5mh

Saturday, September 19  ·  RSVP by September 11

Doug Ackerman on Boeing’s Safety and Quality Plan

Boeing Vice President Doug Ackerman walks through the Safety and Quality Plan the company put in place after the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 door plug failure in 2024—what changed, and how it is holding up two years on.

8:45 – 11:00 a.m. at The Museum of Flight. Come in person and pay for brunch, or join on Zoom at no cost. Hosted by our retiree group, but all are welcome.

RSVP by September 11

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMVSfTdnB5dCJ85S7G2EuKRyxsZIxCu0RWyUxvrNYR06Nmzg/viewform

Come and join your colleagues and friends in the aerospace profession in a relaxed atmosphere. Network over a pitcher of beer and schnitzel. AIAA-SF will provide the first round of drinks and appetizers. Let's exchange ideas, and talk about what everybody is doing, and what's happening in Aerospace. Please RSVP so that we can get suitable space.


Please RSVP so that we can get suitable space:
https://aiaa-sf.org/registration/

Ludwigs Biergarten, 383 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041, Sep.16, 2026 , 5:30 - 6:30pm(All ages welcome!)

https://www.radiuseng.com/about_us#

Radius Engineering is a very successful composites manufacturer with customers all over the world.

The tour will be an hour or so. Their address is at https://www.radiuseng.com/contact# (South Salt Lake).

Please email dan@1000kilometers.com to RSVP.

The hardest space-science missions are, at their core, measurement problems. ESA’s LISA gravitational-wave observatory was formally adopted in January 2024, with industrial construction under prime contractor OHB System AG underway since mid-2025, and launch targeted for the mid-to-late 2030s on the Ariane 6 launcher. LISA must resolve picometer-scale changes in distance across 2.5-million-kilometer arms: a fractional measurement of order one part in 10^21. At that level, the spacecraft and instrument form a single coupled measurement system, and the limiting noise sources are precisely the types an analog and measurement engineer worries about on the bench, scaled to extremes.

In this talk, we will walk through the LISA metrology chain end-to-end, mapping each link to the noise term it contributes. We will also examine how this metrology cross-pollinates. GRACE Follow-On’s laser ranging interferometer (LRI) demonstrated nanometer precision over 220km and the GRACE-FO mission now maps changes in Earth’s gravity associated with groundwater, ice, oceans, and other redistributed mass. Meanwhile, atom interferometers and portable optical clocks are moving fundamental-physics techniques toward field-deployable inertial sensing, gravity measurement, and relativistic geodesy.


More info and registration:
https://aiaa-sf.org/event/precision-metrology/

(All ages welcome!) Come and join your colleagues and friends in the aerospace profession in a relaxed atmosphere. Network over a pitcher of beer and schnitzel. AIAA-SF will provide the first round of drinks and appetizers. Let's exchange ideas, and talk about what everybody is doing, and what's happening in Aerospace. Please RSVP so that we can get suitable space.


Please RSVP so that we can get suitable space:
https://aiaa-sf.org/registration/

For those attending AVIATION in San Diego from June 8-12, please join the San Diego Section on Wednesday, June 10th from 5:30-7:30 for a happy hour event near the conference center. Come join us for a selection of wine, beer, sodas, water, charcuterie, and appetizers to network and un”wine” in the middle of the conference. Non-conference attendees are welcome!

Tickets are $20 for AIAA members and $30 for non-members and include food and beverages.

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/DH6RRJ06N5K9G/checkout/NDHVKITACJRZTUHT2MRGISO5?src=webqr

This event is hosted by the San Diego Section and sponsored by General Atomics - Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

Dinner event at Dave’s Place restaurant, located at the Village Inn in Lompoc.

Executive Director of Vandenberg Space Force Base, Tom Stevens will speak about Vandenberg’s planned growth as it is developed into a true space port. Look forward to a night of good food and interesting discussion with your fellow AIAA members.

The event will run from 5:00 to 7:00PM. 

The buffet dinner price will be $20 for AIAA members and $25 for guests.

Please RSVP by email to Tristan Clouse by Friday, May 22 so we can provide an accurate guest count to the restaurant. Tristan.Clouse@mantech.com

Guest Lecture AE 535 Mechanics of Composite Structures - Spring 2026

NAVAIR In-Service Composite Repair Capability and Professional Opportunities at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest

Host: Dr. Margherita Capriotti, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, SDSU

Abstract

The lecture will provide an overview of NAVAIR, its history, locations and role. After the overview, the lecture will describe the main products of NAVAIR Composite Analysis and Methods Team and will focus on composite damage and repairs. The talk will conclude by sharing job opportunities at NAVAIR.

Biography:

Jeff Mankey is a Composite Analysis and Methods Team Lead at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, where he has worked since 2019. His professional experience also includes time in state government, and as a submarine officer in the US Navy. He holds degrees in Physics, Aerospace Engineering, and International Relations.

Janitzia Olivas has been a Composite Analyst at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest since 2022. After completing her general education at Southwestern College, she transferred to UC San Diego, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Structural Engineering in 2022. Her background is in them composite structural analysis and design of high-performance structures.

Sponsored by ASME and UT.

Dear colleague,

It is my pleasure to invite you to attend the 21st Annual AIAA Southern California Aerospace Systems and Technology (SoCal ASAT) Conference.

The conference brings together engineers, researchers, industry leaders, and students to exchange ideas, review recent achievements, and discuss the future of aerospace in Southern California.

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Location: Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, University of California, Irvine (UCI)

Keynote Speakers

• Dr. H. Alicia Kim, UC San Diego, presents Topological Optimization in a Model Based Engineering Framework

• Dr. Goutam Chattopadhyay, NASA JPL / Caltech, presents Space Technologies from MHz to THz for Addressing Fundamental Science Questions

Program Highlights

• Morning and afternoon technical breakout sessions

• Poster presentations

• Networking with professionals across industry and academia

• Lunch featuring AIAA Orange County and San Gabriel Valley section updates

Registration (might be covered by your employer; ask your manager!)

• AIAA Member: $85

• Non-Member: $99

• Student: $40

Registration deadline: April 22, 2026
Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pc3vgh7

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included. Parking is provided courtesy of the Caltech Center for Technology & Management Education.

We welcome both AIAA members and non-members. We hope to see you at ASAT 2026.

Warm regards,

Harsha Reddy, PhD

Co-chair, SoCal ASAT Conference

Aircraft have been supporting wildfire response for decades—dropping water and retardant, tracking fire movement, and helping protect communities. Yet most aerial firefighting today is still limited to daytime operations using crewed aircraft, with only limited capability in challenging conditions like heavy smoke or low visibility. This leaves critical hours—especially at night—when fires can continue to grow with reduced aerial support.

In this talk, we explore how new technologies being developed at NASA are helping change that picture. By advancing smarter airspace management and coordination tools, these innovations aim to enable safe, continuous (24/7) aerial operations and better integration of both crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The goal is to make firefighting from the sky safer, more flexible, and more effective—even in complex and low-visibility environments.

Join us for a look at how these emerging capabilities could transform wildfire response in the years ahead, expanding what’s possible, improving safety for those on the front lines, and helping communities better face the growing challenge of wildfires.

Advance registration is required. Attendance is free. Refreshments will be available for paid attendees.
https://aiaa-sf.org/event/tech-talk-fighting-wildfires/

Dear San Diego Aerospace Community,

The AIAA San Diego section invites you to attend a great lecture organized by the San Diego State University student branch.  This talk will discuss how X-planes paved the way for modern autonomous aircraft.  We hope to see you there!

Date: Thursday, April 16th, 2026

Time: 6 PM

Location: SDSU, Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA), Room 310

Cost: Free! 

Parking: 10 spots have been reserved on the top floor of Parking Structure 1.  They will be marked with A-frame signs

Abstract:

Autonomous capabilities have existed in aircraft since the beginning of heavier-than-air flight, and experimental vehicles known as X-planes have played a major role in advancing these technologies. This presentation explores several of these aircraft and how their autonomous features improved system safety, survivability, combat capability, and mission effectiveness.  Examples include the X-31 developed through the U.S.-German X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Program, which demonstrated thrust-vectoring, helmet-mounted displays, and controlled flight at extremely high angles of attack. Additional examples come from the Unmanned Combat Air Systems Program, including the Boeing X-45A and Northrop Grumman X-47B, which demonstrated autonomous team operations, carrier landings, aerial refueling, and advanced damage-tolerant control technologies.

Speaker: 

Dr. Michael Francis is an aerospace executive and technologist with over 50 years of experience leading advanced research and technology programs across government, industry, and academia. He currently works as an independent consultant, author, and educator. He recently co-authored the textbook The Anatomy of Autonomy, published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in September 2025, and an online short course based on the book will be presented in April 2026. He is widely known for pioneering work in unmanned air systems, including initiating the original Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle program while serving at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in the early 1990s. During his Air Force career, he also directed the award-winning X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Program through its flight test phase and later led the $4.5B Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems Program. After retiring from a 27-year career in the United States Air Force, he held executive and technical leadership roles in the aerospace industry with companies including Aurora Flight Sciences, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, and United Technologies Corporation. Dr. Francis holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The Tucson AIAA Section cordially invites you to join us for a special 45-min group tour of the Titan Missile Museum on Saturday, April 11 at 10:30 AM.  

Join fellow aerospace enthusiasts for this unique experience exploring one of Arizona's most iconic pieces of Cold War history.  Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early (10:15 AM) at the museum cashier's desk for check-in.

For tour details, please visit Tours | Titan Missile Museum.

To reserve your spot, please sign up using this form and complete the requested information: Titan Missile Museum Tour Sign-Up

We are pleased to offer up to a total of 20 tickets at a substantial discount for this event:

• Regular AIAA Members: $10

  • Pima County Residents: $5

• AIAA Student Members (with ID): $5

  • Pima County Residents: Free

• One guest per member: $15

  • Pima County Residents or children 12 and under: $10

• Additional guests: Full museum pricing applies per the museum website

Important: If you sign up as a Pima County resident, you MUST bring along proof of residency, which includes either an ID plus utility bill or an ID with a Pima County address.

After you sign up, we will contact people who have signed up with additional information, including payment instructions, if applicable.

We're looking forward to seeing a great group there for what promises to be a fascinating and fun event!

Best,

Stefan Wernz
Technical Programs, Tucson Section of AIAA

Quintina Hardesty Becker
Communications, Tucson Section of AIAA

Ludwig's Biergarten, 383 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041, Apr. 9, 2026, 5 - 6:30pm

(All ages welcome!) Come and join your colleagues and friends in the aerospace profession in a relaxed atmosphere. Network over a pitcher of beer and schnitzel. AIAA-SF will provide the first round of drinks and appetizers. Let's exchange ideas, and talk about what everybody is doing, and what's happening in Aerospace.

Please RSVP so that we can get suitable space:
https://aiaa-sf.org/registration/

Engineering the Lunar Frontier: Mitigating risk for both hypervelocity impacts and cislunar PNT time lag

Dr. Jacob N. Yates, Principal and Founder Mintaka Space Systems LLC, USN Commander (RET)

10401 Roselle St, San Diego, CA 92121

Cross-collaboration event with IEEE.

This technical symposium highlights three cutting-edge graduate research projects from San Diego State University covering aerospace structures, experimental aerodynamics, and autonomous space guidance. Join AIAA members, industry professionals, and students for an engaging evening of presentations and discussion.

Featured Presentations

Modeling of Honeycomb Core Sandwich Composite Fillet Fracture Using XFEM – Austin MacGowan (M.S. Student)

Sandwich composites using aluminum honeycomb cores are widely used in aerospace structures due to their high stiffness-to-weight ratio. However, the structural strength of these materials is strongly influenced by fracture behavior in adhesive fillets located between the face-sheets and honeycomb cell walls. Because these fractures occur at extremely small scales, traditional experimental methods cannot fully characterize them. This research applies to the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) within ABAQUS to model crack initiation and propagation within adhesive fillets. By examining how fillet geometry, material properties, and porosity affect fracture behavior, the work aims to improve prediction of interface strength in honeycomb sandwich structures and reduce reliance on costly experimental testing and conservative knockdown factors.

Prandtl-D Flying Wing Wind Tunnel Aerodynamic Characterization – Yuichiro Tobita (M.S. Student)

The Prandtl-D flying wing concept applies Prandtl’s Bell-Shaped Lift Distribution to reduce induced drag and improve aerodynamic efficiency. Wind-tunnel testing conducted at SDSU measured aerodynamic forces and moments while oil-film visualization techniques revealed detailed surface-flow patterns. Results showed strong agreement with prior computational and experimental studies. Flow visualization identified a spanwise laminar separation bubble at low angles of attack that transitions to full-span separation beyond stall. Complementary computational analysis using the OVERFLOW CFD solver further validated the experimental results, providing insight into the unique aerodynamic behavior of the Prandtl-D configuration.

Fuel-Optimized Autonomous Guidance for Human Landings on the Moon and Mars – Christopher Davami (PhD Candidate)

Future human missions to the Moon and Mars will require landing vehicles far larger and more precise than today’s robotic missions. Early Mars landers may exceed 60,000 kg and must land within tens of meters of target sites while consuming large amounts of propellant during descent. This research develops computationally efficient onboard guidance algorithms that minimize propellant usage while maintaining landing accuracy and safety. Using optimal control methods designed for flight computers, the approach enables fuel-optimal trajectory generation and real-time tracking control. Simulation results demonstrate a significant reduction in propellant consumption—from approximately 20,000 kg to 8,000 kg—while maintaining precise landing capability for future crewed planetary missions.

Event Details

Date: Monday 3/23

Agenda:

5:30pm Registration, Social and Pizza
6:15 AIAA Announcements
6:30-7:45 Presentations
Post Social until 8:30pm.

Location: Helix Brewing Co., 8101 Commercial St, La Mesa, CA 91942

Hosted by: AIAA San Diego Section

Costs: Non Members: $15; AIAA Members: $10, Students: $5

Includes: Pizza and (1) drink ticket.

Who Should Attend: AIAA members, aerospace professionals, researchers, and students interested in emerging aerospace technologies.

Registration / RSVP: https://square.link/u/QMkuowo7