Lauren Savage, UTA Alum
Blue Origin
Thursday, 9 April 2026
12 -1pm
UTA Nedderman Hall Room 100
Please RSVP - https://linktr.ee/AIAA_UTA
SWAS Educates & Inspires at UTA
The Southwest Aerospace Symposium (SWAS) was again held at the UTA Science & Engineering Innovation & Research (SEIR) building on 28 March 2026 featuring some of the latest in technology and aerospace development.
Keynote address from NASA Astronaut Bob “Farmer” Hines (M) “NASA’s 21st Century Challenge: Testing for Human Spaceflight” described in detail NASA’s plans for the upcoming return to the moon in the next few days with the Artemis program. Above, Farmer discusses his previous experience, having spent 6 months on the ISS space station in 2022, with UTA students.
Retired Virgin Galactic astronaut and current/first woman SETP President, Kelly Latimer (F), served as the morning session chair. Shown above presenting the speaker’s gift Spy Pilot, autographed by author Gary Powers, Jr., to UTA BSAE graduate Brian Nyaberim from Bombardier for his presentation High-Altitude Airport Operations (HAAO) Testing Lessons Learned.
Lockheed Martin test pilot and SWAS Tech Chair, Ryan “Cujo” Blake (AF), also served as the afternoon session chair, above presenting speaker gifts for Strategies for Integrating Complex Aircraft Software Systems: Insights from Software Engineers at Lockheed Martin to Jennifer Klenka & Stephanie Figueroa, LM.
UT Arlington and UT Dallas AIAA student branches presented information about their programs in the main session as well as outside in the foyer with their rockets, UAVs, and projects.
The 2026 SWAS Best Technical Presentation award went to Dr. Troy Schank from Bell/VFS for “Full Scale Stop-fold System Transition Demo on a High-Speed Test”. Presented L to R above by Mike Fox (SWAS chief judge), Dr. Schank, and SWAS co-chairs CR Davis (AF) & James Sergeant F.
With 110 registrants, SWAS was a combined effort between AIAA North Texas and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), with support from the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) and Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE). The SWAS day ended with a no-host event at the Tipsy Oak in Arlington, TX, above.
Thanks to our sponsors - the International Test Pilots School (ITPS) Canada, Bell, Lockheed Martin, Tiltrotor Flight Test Consulting LLC, and UTA. Special thanks to all our presenters from across the aerospace community including our volunteers from AIAA, SETP, and the AIAA student members from UT Arlington and UT Dallas. More photos can be found at AIAA North Texas Engage with video recordings of most presentations available soon.
Test Foundations for Flight Test
Considering a career in flight test or test engineering?
Highly Recommended!
AIAA Online Short Course
6–29 April 2026 (4 Weeks, 8 Classes, 16 Total Hours)
Every Monday & Wednesday 12–2 pm
This course will provide a great primer on the basics! Taught by USAF Test Pilot School graduate & current instructor Ms. Jessica “Sting” Peterson (below), a Graduate Research Assistant and PhD student at University Nevada Reno (UNR). This course will help your resume stand out when applying for flight test or other test engineering jobs!
Course Info
All sessions recorded and available for replay; course notes will be available for download.
This course introduces the components involved with planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting on a flight test program. Concepts such as test planning, risk identification and management, test conduct, data analysis, and technical reporting are presented with real-world flight test examples. All students receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at end of course.
COURSE FEES
- AIAA Member $945
- Non-Member $1145
- AIAA Student Member $595
Register
AIAA Volunteers needed for
Collin College Engineering Speed Mentoring
1 May 2026
12 -1:30pm
Collin College Allen Technical Campus
2550 Bending Branch Way, Allen, TX 75013
Contact
Judges Needed for ESRA Competition
AIAA is a proud supporter of ESRA's International Rocket Engineering Competition. They are currently looking for judges to support the on-site execution of the event. Judges will need to be able to commit to the following activities which are a combination of online judging and in-person support:
- 22-25 hours grading technical reports from May 4th to June 7th. This is done virtually.
- 3-7pm on Monday, June 15 in Midland, Texas. Attend volunteer meeting and take group photo.
- All day on Tuesday, June 16 in Midland, Texas. Judge rocket design and build. Potentially judge podium sessions.
- 12:30 pm - 8pm on Saturday, June 20 in Midland, Texas. Judge deliberations and award ceremony.
If interested in volunteering, please contact Merridith Kauten (merridithk@aiaa.org) by Monday, April 13th.
Calendar
30 April
AIAA North Texas Award Nominations Due
1 May
Collin College Engineering Speed Networking Mentoring Event, Collin College Technical Campus, 12:00-1:30pm, Contact/Volunteer
5-6 May
Flight Test Safety Workshop, Hilton Double Tree, South Fort Worth, TX
TBD May
AIAA North Texas Awards Dinner, UTA
8–12 June
AIAA Aviation, San Diego, CA
TBD July
Frontiers of Flight Moon Day STEM Event