A Launching Pad for Emerging Aerospace Professionals

AIAA is the place where emerging aerospace professionals can get their start. Whether a student in grade school, high school, or university, or pursuing advanced degrees, AIAA can enable a meaningful career journey. The AIAA Foundation is an inspiring and invaluable part of a student's experience. The work of the Foundation over the past 25+ years has inspired a new generation of aerospace professionals. Every day we strive to impact students where their aspirations begin and to reach educators where their inspiration begins. Through the Foundation we make funding available for STEM education programs, providing hands-on experiences that spark students' curiosity about space, nurture their passions around STEM topics, and move them along a journey from the classroom into their career. Understanding the impact of the Foundation through stories is powerful. My own AIAA story began almost 40 years ago at the AIAA Student Branch at North Carolina State University. Since then, I've been honored to lead the Institute as its president (2020-2022) and serve as the chair of the AIAA Foundation today.