Eight AAE alumni were celebrated at the 20th annual OAE awards banquet April 2.

David Thompson is one of eight alumni selected as Outstanding Aerospace Engineers.

Lindsay Millard will accept her OAE fresh off what she calls the most rewarding moment of her career: The launch of her first satellite as a program manager.

Ben Diachun, a member of AAE's Industrial Advisory Council, was named president at OPENER, a pioneer of aerial vehicles for consumer travel.

Research continues on an eventual 140-million-mile mission to Mars, developing the latest transportation as well as habitats necessary for the red planet. But embarking on such a mission and safely living both during and afterward are differing ideas. The latter is the research focus of AAE Professor Alina Alexeenko.

Scott Meyer went from a Purdue student using labs at Zucrow to becoming the facility's managing director, all evidence of what the OAE calls perfect timing.

"One of the reasons I went to Purdue, in addition to the excellent academics, is that it has many outstanding leaders and industry pioneers among its alumni," says Tony Gingiss, who will be honored with an OAE April 2. "I am truly honored to be recognized by Purdue among such esteemed company."

"Coming out of Purdue, I was like, 'After this, I can do anything,'" says Mike Dreessen (BSAAE '83), who will be honored as an OAE April 2. "I was battle scarred from the challenges the professors were putting forward."

A team of engineers, led by Vikas Tomar, will work as part of a new U.S. Department of Defense program intended to accelerate basic research innovations, with defense relevance, into the marketplace.

Doug Beal (BSAAE '87) says an AAE251 lecture set an enduring tone of professional habits and ethics, one that he’s exemplified during a 32-year accomplished military career.