The award recognizes Shih's "outstanding contributions to computational tool development and improvement for use in design, analysis and examination of complex engineering problems involving aerodynamics, propulsion and energy."

Established in 1981, the Energy Systems Award is presented for significant contributions in the field of energy systems, specifically as they relate to the application of engineering sciences and systems engineering to the production, storage, distribution and conservation of energy. The award was presented to Shih at the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum late last month.