NSBE Aerospace Special Interest Group (SIG) Award Nominations
Globally recognizes the accomplishments of distinguished engineers and scientists of African American / African ancestry across the aerospace industry. Award nominations close August 20 annually.

• Aerospace SIG Awards

  • Distinguished Engineer in Aerospace recognizes an engineer that is been highlighted for his or her technical contributions that led to a major aerospace industry breakthrough or milestone within 3-years of the award nomination due date. 

  • Lifetime Achievement in Aerospace recognizes an individual whose career demonstrates innovating aerospace solutions and has at least 25 years. 

  • Aerospace Pioneer of the Year recognizes an individual who has demonstrated impeccable leadership and technical aptitude charting the pathway for new solutions for the advancement of the aerospace industry within 7-years of the award nomination due date.

  • Outstanding Woman in Aerospace recognizes a woman who has contributed to advancing the aerospace industry through major technical contributions on projects within 4 years of the award nomination due date.

  • Aerospace Entrepreneur of the Year recognizes an entrepreneur that has demonstrated leadership and success entering and growing within the Aerospace Industry. This award requires a statement of support from the entrepreneur's senior staff or supplier/customer. 

  • Aerospace Technologist of the Year recognizes an individual who has demonstrated impeccable technical aptitude defining a technical strategy to implement solutions requiring advanced technology or research that can result in patents and/or industry advancement within 1-year of the award nomination due date.

  • Outstanding Young Engineer in Aerospace recognizes engineer within the industry on a positive trajectory and accomplishing at least 3 major milestones on aerospace type projects or programs within 2 years of the award nomination due date.  The nominee can have no more than 8 years of experience.

  • Aerospace Educator of the Year recognizes an educator or community development leader that delivers sustainable competitive and relevant aerospace industry programming and education to students ranging from kindergarten to college. The nominee should have demonstrated success for at least 2 years

  • Aerospace SIG Student Researcher of the Year recognizes student researchers for research ideas and work that could advance the aerospace industry. This award category is self-nominated and will be awarded to three JEDI Researchers (JEDI-R). Catorigores: JEDI-R Level 1 for 6th through 12th grade, JEDI-R Level 2 for Undergraduate students, JEDI-R Level 3 for Graduate students). JEDI-Rs are required to submit a paper that summarizes their research or theorized concepts from school courses that could advance the aerospace industry. The paper should be 6 pages or less in APA-6th edition format and include an additional executive summary page that is 250 words or less. The papers of the 3 awardees have the opportunity to launch a research team co-sponsored Aerospace SIG and a corporate sponsor. 

  • 21st Century Trailblazers Awards recognizes entry to mid-level engineers and scientists that show high promise within the field and have demonstrated technical achievement. There will be one awardee per category. 

    1. 21st Century Trailblazers in Unmanned Space and Launch Vehicles

    2. 21st Century Trailblazers in Software, Avionics, and Robotics

    3. 21st Century Trailblazers in Military Aircraft and Aviation

    4. 21st Century Trailblazers in Human Spaceflight

    5. 21st Century Trailblazers in Systems Engineering

    6. 21st Century Trailblazers in Space Research of NSBE