CSU hosts largest aerospace symposium in AIAA Rocky Mountain section history

By Taryn Bradley
September 28, 2023

Colorado State University and the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering hosted over 500 attendees this past September for the largest aeronautics and aerospace symposium in the history of The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Rocky Mountain section.

CSU students, faculty, staff, industry and technical leaders gathered at the Fort Collins campus to learn about the latest aerospace research and concepts. Attendees discussed sustainability, propulsion, cybersecurity, AI, and other developing aerospace topics.

The symposium featured keynote speakers Lt. Gen. John Shaw, Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command, Noelle Zietsman, Vice President and Chief Engineer of Boeing Exploration Systems, and Bob Behnken, former NASA astronaut and Lockheed Martin’s Director of Technology Acceleration.

AIAA annual technical symposium brings together people at all stages of their career to collaborate, share ideas, and inspire. Throughout the day, a theme of collaboration across the aerospace community prevailed.

“The main takeaway here, no matter where you work in the space community, is that all the sectors are now inter-reliant and interdependent on themselves in ways they never were before,” said Lt. Gen. Shaw.

Noelle Zietsman, Boeing Exploration Systems VP and Chief Engineer, delivers the morning keynote address at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. September 22, 2023 — Noelle Zietsman, Boeing Exploration Systems VP and Chief Engineer, delivers the morning keynote address at the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. September 22, 2023

Former astronaut and founder of the CSU Systems Engineering program Ron Sega the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. — Former astronaut and founder of the CSU Systems Engineering program Ron Sega the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Robert Beletic, Aerospace & Defense Industry Manager at Colorado Office of Economic Development and International trade.

CSU/Adams State University Mechanical Engineering students and Lt. Gen. John Shaw of the U.S. Space Command.

Lieutenant General John Shaw, Deputy Commander at U.S. Space Command, delivers the lunch keynote at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. September 22, 2023

CSU Mechanical Engineering Professor and Electrical Propulsion and Plasma Engineering Laboratory Director John Williams speaks on the Propulsion & Responsive Launch panel.

Haonan Chen, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on SmallSat and CubeSat Constellations at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. Panelsists include Sharmila Padmanabhan, Instrument Lead Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Jillian Redfern, R&D Senior Program Manager at the Southwest Research Institute, Steve Reising, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Microwave Systems Laboratory Director at Colorado State University, and Caleb Gronewold, Principal Business Development Manager at Blue Canyon Technologies. September 22, 2023 — Haonan Chen, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on SmallSat and CubeSat Constellations at the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering Interim Dean Ken Reardon welcomes attendees to the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. — Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering Interim Dean Ken Reardon welcomes attendees to the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Steven Reising, electrical and computer engineering professor and Microwave Systems Laboratory director speaks on the SmallSat & CubeSat Constellations panel.

The Colorado Space Industry: Nation’s Second-Largest Aerospace Economy panel at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Jim Adams, Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on Digital Transformation at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. Panelists include Ryan Yourishin, Principal System Engineer at Sierra Nevada Corporation, Erin Ryan, Senior Project Lead for The Aerospace Corporation, Ron Kratzke, MBSE Industry Process Experts Manager for Dassault Systems, and Casey Medina, President of Studio SE, Ltd. September 22, 2023 — Jim Adams, Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on Digital Transformation at the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Marlene Price, Chief Consulting Officer for Trajectory Consulting, LLC, moderates a panel discussion on Enabling Launch – Vertical and Horizontal at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. Panelists include Eric Miller, Principal and Co-Owner of PADT, Inc. Mostafa Yourdkhani, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Multifunctional Polymers and Composite Laboratory at Colorado State University, David Waller, Principal Investigator for Additive Manufacturing at Ball Aerospace, Daudi Barnes, Founder, President and CTO at Agile Space Industries, and Chris Parsons, Territory Manager for Glenair, Inc. September 22, 2023 — Marlene Price, Chief Consulting Officer for Trajectory Consulting, LLC, moderates a panel discussion on Enabling Launch – Vertical and Horizontal at the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Tom Bradley, Professor and Department Head of Systems Engineering at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on AI and Machine Learning at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. Panelists include Libby Barnes, Professor of Atmospheric Science and Climate and Data Scientist at Colorado State University, Matthew Pais, Modeling and Simulation Director at Dassault Systemes, Matthew Poppelwell, Astrodynamics and Satellite Navigation Engineer, at Advanced Space, James Walliser, Systems Engineering Program Director, US Air Force Academy, and Ian Warener, Industry Workforce Director, Development and Innovation at Trimble, Inc. September 22, 2023 — Tom Bradley, Professor and Department Head of Systems Engineering at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on AI and Machine Learning at the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Ciprian Dumitrache, Assistant Professor and Director of Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Lab at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on Hypersonics and Supersonics at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) annual technical symposium at Colorado State University. Panelists include Hisham Ali, Assistant Professor and Director of the Magnetoaerodynamics and Aerospace Plasmas Laboratory at the University of Colorado, Daudi Barnes, Founder and President and CTO at Agile Space Industries, Steve Layne, Program Director, at Lockheed Martin Space, and Andrew Piotti, Engineering Director at Reaction Engines, Inc. September 22, 2023 — Ciprian Dumitrache, Assistant Professor and Director of Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Lab at Colorado State University, moderates a panel discussion on Hypersonics and Supersonics at the 2023 AIAA annual technical symposium at Colorado State University.

Ian Warner, industry workforce director of development and innovation at Trimble Inc., walks to a panel with his robot “dog.”

Matt Rogers, assistant director of outreach and communications for the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, shows Mechanical Engineering Department Head Christian Puttlitz CIRA’s live satellite feed.

About CSU’s aerospace program

The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering brings together a collaborative aerospace ecosystem of researchers, faculty, staff and industry partners. Well-rounded academic and research programs across engineering disciplines offer students a hands-on, applied education. Whether it’s deep-space communication, autonomous UAVs, robotics or using and calibrating sophisticated sensors, students with a passion for aerospace have a home at CSU.

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Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering

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CSU hosts largest aerospace symposium in AIAA Rocky Mountain section history

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