Outstanding Aerospace Engineers

The designation of Outstanding Aerospace Engineer, granted by the Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, recognizes the professional contributions of our graduates and thanks them for the recognition their success brings to Purdue and the School.

The school is pleased to have honored five AAE graduates with the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer award on April 3, 2025.

Recipients have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service or other endeavors that reflect the value of an aerospace engineering degree. The 230 total Outstanding Aerospace Engineers represent just over 2% of the school’s alumni.

The 2025 honorees, pictured above, are:

• Paul “Rusty” Thomas (BSAAE ’91)
  Chief Technology Officer
  Sierra Space Corporation
• Albert Shih (PhD AAE ’91)
  Professor of Mechanical Engineering
  University of Michigan
• Tom Cannon (BSAAE 1964, MSAAE 1969, PhD AAE 1970), 2024 honoree
  
  Chief Executive Officer
  TransNet Technologies
• Shannon FitzPatrick (BSAAE ’01, MSAAE ’03)
  Associate Director of Flight Programs, Planetary Science
  NASA
• Cynthia Mahler (BSAAE 1998), 2023 honoree
  
  Former Director, University Partnership Program
  The Boeing Company
• Adam Trebs (MSAAE ’08, PhD AAE ’12)
  Lead Technologist, Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion
  Raytheon
• John Gedmark (BSAAE ’05)
  Co-founder and CEO
  Astranis

McGowan and Moses named Distinguished Engineering Alumnae

The Distinguished Engineering Alumni/Alumnae Award is presented by the College of Engineering to men and women who have distinguished themselves in any field in ways that reflect favorably on Purdue University, the engineering profession or society in general.

These alumni are engaged in engineering work and their record of accomplishments is indicated by their growth into positions of increasing responsibility.

Two alumnae of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics were recognized among the 12 DEA Award recipients in 2025: Anna-Maria Rivas McGowan (BSAAE '92), Senior Executive of Complex Systems Design at NASA, and Beth Moses (BSAAE '92, MSAAE '94), Astronaut and Chief Astronaut Instructor at Virgin Galactic. 

AAE alumni show strong representation in 38 by 38 Awards

Thomas Horan, a Purdue Engineering 38 by 38 Award honoree, gives feedback during a presentation by the GoAero Purdue team.

Eight AAE alumni were selected for Purdue Engineering’s annual 38 by 38 Awards, a recognition of high achievement by 38 young alumni. The award was inspired by the legacy of alumnus Neil Armstrong, who was 38 years old when he set foot on the moon.

Award recipients who returned to campus were able to meet with students and provide insight on their early career experiences. Student clubs preparing for competition were able to present their work to these alumni and receive meaningful feedback on their designs.

The 2025 AAE honorees are:

• Catherine Berdanier
  (MSAAE ’13, PhD AAE ’16)
  Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
  Pennsylvania State University
• David Cronin (BSAAE ’10)
  Vice President, Commercial Aviation Operations
  Intelsat
• Tom Feldman (BSAAE ’11, MSAAE ’13)
  Co-Founder and CTO
  Stoke Space Technologies
• Thomas Horan (BSAAE ’08)
  AI/ML Portfolio Director
  Department of Defense
• Alex Jordan (BSAAE ’12)
  Associate Technical Fellow
  The Boeing Company
• Marat Kulakhmetov (MSAAE ’11, PhD AAE ’16)
  Head of Analysis and Hypersonics
  Varda Space Industries
• Austin Link (MSAAE ’14)
  Co-Founder
  Starfish Space
• Oscar Ojeda (MSAAE ’21)
  CEO, Cydonia Foundation and
  Advisor of the Aerospace line, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia

The 38 by 38 Awards are accepting nominations through January 31, 2026.

Submit a Nomination