Lt. Gen. (ret.) Charles "CR" Davis
Keynote Speaker

Lessons still to be learned, X-1 to F-47 and the Apollo Lunar Module to Artemis 4--More Questions than Answers

CR is an active experimental test pilot with L3Harris with 250+ test hours in–AT-802 and OA-1K Skyraider.  Conducting envelope expansion, engine airstarts, handling qualities and mission systems testing as L3Harris converts AT-802 into USAF’s OA-1K. Retired in 2014 as Military Deputy to Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition;) responsible for R&D, test, production, and modernization programs.  Commanded Electronic Systems Center—was Program Executive for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks at Hanscom AFB, responsible for JSTARS, AWACS, and other classified aviation programs.  Commanded Air Armament Center and Air Force Development Test Center Eglin AFB.  Active F-16 Test Pilot—Program Executive Officer for Weapons.  Directed development/test of weapons including variants of the AMRAAM missile, Small Diameter Bomb II, Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile and first variant of Massive Ordinance Penetrator. Held key program management positions: Director F-15 Development and Acquisition; T-6A Texan II System Program Director; F-15 System Program Director; and F-35 JSF Program Executive Officer. Oversaw development and first flights of F-35A/B.  Commanded 412th Test Wing Edwards AFB.  Commanded the 410th Flight Test Squadron, F/YF-117A Combined Test Force. Distinguished Grad USAF TPS Class 87B; Distinguished Grad, BS Chemistry USAFA; MS Mechanical Eng, California State Univ Fresno.

Countdown Until AIAA North Texas Awards:

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Schedule

6 pmSocial

Meet the nominees along with students, professionals, and educators from around North Texas.

6:30 pmDinner

BBQ Buffet Dinner

7:30 pmKeynote Speaker

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Charles "CR" Davis

8 pmAwards Program

Nominees will be listed for each category then the winner announced with award presentation.

2026 AIAA North Texas Award Nominees

High School Senior Scholarship ($500) GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal (need not be for university, can be technical/mechanical/pilot/ATC goal), and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas high school.

Nominee - Awab Badawi,

Trinity High school

High School Senior Scholarship ($500) GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal (need not be for university, can be technical/mechanical/pilot/ATC goal), and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas high school.

Nominee - Aswin Saravanan

Coppell High School

College Undergraduate Student Scholarship ($500) GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas college.

Nominee - Ms. Deeva Khanuja,

UTA

College Undergraduate Student Scholarship ($500) GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas college.

Nominee - Mr. Sharan Sathish,

UNT/UT

Dr. Don Seath Award for Outstanding University Faculty Arrived Baylor several years ago from NMSU. Established AVIA lab. Established new Baylor Student Branch in 2025. Continually presents tech papers with students at many AIAA National Forums. His efforts continue to grow NTX Section, bring Baylor into national prominence, and develop students to support future of aerospace.

Awarded to Dr. Liang Sun

Baylor University

Outstanding High School Educator Service/support for students, other faculty, programs, university, technical field, or AIAA will be considered for a North Texas instructor.

Nominee - Mr. Bryan Harston

HEB Technology Center

Outstanding High School Educator Service/support for students, other faculty, programs, university, technical field, or AIAA will be considered for a North Texas instructor.

Nominee - Mr. Mark Kirk

Granbury High School

College Student of the Year GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas college.

Nominee - Nisrine Jawhari

Collin College

College Student of the Year GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas college.

Nominee - Sharan Sathish

UNT/UT

College Student of the Year GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas college.

Nominee - Saarang Sivakumar

Embry Riddle

College Student of the Year GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for student attending North Texas college.

Nominee - Austen Smith

UTA

Dr. Jack Fairchild Award for Best AIAA North Texas Collegiate Event This award honors former UTA Professor Dr. Jack Fairchild for his years of service to the aerospace education profession with his VariEze aircraft building program for students and his support and promotion of AIAA. Any AIAA supported/organized/recognized collegiate event is eligible.

Nominee - UTA AIAA Student Branch

Southwest Aerospace Symposium co-host

Dr. Jack Fairchild Award for Best AIAA North Texas Collegiate Event This award honors former UTA Professor Dr. Jack Fairchild for his years of service to the aerospace education profession with his VariEze aircraft building program for students and his support and promotion of AIAA. Any AIAA supported/organized/recognized collegiate event is eligible.

Nominee - UTD AIAA Student Branch

Annual Technical Presentation

High School Student of the Year GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for North Texas student.

Nominee - Saanvika Gandhari

Coppell High School

High School Student of the Year GPA, public service, activities, aerospace career goal, and AIAA activities will be considered for North Texas student.

Nominee - Eugenia Jin

Grapevine High School

Dr. Don Wilson Award for AIAA North Texas Young Professional of the Year This award honors former UTA Professor Dr. Don Wilson for his years of service to UTA. Dr. Wilson was responsible for the development of the Aerodynamics Research Center (https://arc.uta.edu/) and was the graduate advisor of NASA Astronaut Kalpana Chalwa. Professional achievements, service/support for AIAA will be considered.

Nominee - Angela Buccio

Bell Textron

Dr. Don Wilson Award for AIAA North Texas Young Professional of the Year This award honors former UTA Professor Dr. Don Wilson for his years of service to UTA. Dr. Wilson was responsible for the development of the Aerodynamics Research Center (https://arc.uta.edu/) and was the graduate advisor of NASA Astronaut Kalpana Chalwa. Professional achievements, service/support for AIAA will be considered.

Nominee - Alex Doriski

L3 Harris

Outstanding Aerospace Achievement by a North Texas Individual Technical, research, education, or operations will be considered.

Nominee - Jim Acree

Project Test Pilot for AT-1002

Outstanding Aerospace Achievement by a North Texas Individual Technical, research, education, or operations will be considered.

Nominee - Stephen Atkins, UTA

1st Place 2026 AIAA Region IV Student Paper Conference, Graduate Division

Outstanding Aerospace Achievement by a North Texas Team Technical, research, education, or operations will be considered.

Nominee - UT Dallas DBF Team

23rd out of 93 teams

Outstanding Aerospace Achievement by a North Texas Team Technical, research, education, or operations will be considered.

Nominee - FIRST Tech Challenge Team 18270

Robotics World Championship Runner Up (out of the 366 teams)

Outstanding Aerospace Achievement by a North Texas Team Technical, research, education, or operations will be considered.

Nominee - Tarleton State University

1st Place AIAA Region IV Student Paper, Undergrad Team

Outstanding AIAA Support by an AIAA North Texas National Student Member Service/support for AIAA will be considered.

Nominee - Mi Vo, UTD Student Branch President

Student Branch Leadership

Outstanding AIAA Support by a North Texas Young Professional Member Service/support for AIAA will be considered.

Nominee - Yen Pham

Luft Org App Team

Outstanding AIAA Support by a North Texas Professional Member Service/support for AIAA will be considered.

Nominee - Michael Filippidis, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control

AIAA HQ coordination

Outstanding AIAA Support by a North Texas Company or Organization Service/support for AIAA will be considered.

Nominee - SETP Southwest Section

Southwest Aerospace Symposium co-host

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