Vertical Flight Society Award Recipients
Robert L. Lichten Award
Established in 1976 to provide an incentive to VFS members, who have not previously presented the results of their work at a technical forum, to begin presenting their work at local and regional VFS meetings. Download the <a href="/611B7BF2-D06B-A6DE-FC9061E65969C45B" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lichten award information and eligibility rules</a>.
2026
Parth Kumar
Joby Aviation
For his winning paper, “A High Integrity State Machine Framework for In-Flight Disturbance Injection and Failure Response Validation."
Joby Aviation
For his winning paper, “A High Integrity State Machine Framework for In-Flight Disturbance Injection and Failure Response Validation."
2025
Angela Buccio
Bell Textron Inc.
"Modeling Unsteady Aerodynamics in RCAS for High-Speed Rotor Aeroelastic Applications"
Bell Textron Inc.
"Modeling Unsteady Aerodynamics in RCAS for High-Speed Rotor Aeroelastic Applications"
2024
Cristiano Maria Capizzi
Leonardo Helicopters
"Correlation of Rotor Loads during Ground Operations in a Turbulent Wind Environment"
Leonardo Helicopters
"Correlation of Rotor Loads during Ground Operations in a Turbulent Wind Environment"
2023
Jessica Beyer
Pennsylvania State University
"Individual Blade Pitch Control (IBC) for Vibration Reduction of Lift-Offset Coaxial Rotor Vehicles with Auxiliary Propulsion"
Pennsylvania State University
"Individual Blade Pitch Control (IBC) for Vibration Reduction of Lift-Offset Coaxial Rotor Vehicles with Auxiliary Propulsion"
2022
Timothy Schmidt
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
"Automated Optical Rotor Blade Tip Clearance Tracking Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms"
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company
"Automated Optical Rotor Blade Tip Clearance Tracking Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms"
2021
Andrew Lavoie
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
"Variational Tolerance Analysis (VTA) – Design and Manufacturing Optimization using Statistical Simulation"
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co.
"Variational Tolerance Analysis (VTA) – Design and Manufacturing Optimization using Statistical Simulation"
2020
Chloe Johnson
University of Texas at Austin
"Experimental Measurements and Low-Order Modeling of Stacked Rotor Performance in Hover"
University of Texas at Austin
"Experimental Measurements and Low-Order Modeling of Stacked Rotor Performance in Hover"
2019
Benjamin Leon
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Ground and Flight Tests of a Cable-Driven Four-Bar Linkage Robotic Landing Gear for Rotorcraft"
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Ground and Flight Tests of a Cable-Driven Four-Bar Linkage Robotic Landing Gear for Rotorcraft"
2017
Carolyn Walther
Texas A&M University
"Experimental and Computational Studies to Understand Unsteady Aerodynamics of Cycloidal Rotors in Hover at Ultralow Reynolds Numbers"
Texas A&M University
"Experimental and Computational Studies to Understand Unsteady Aerodynamics of Cycloidal Rotors in Hover at Ultralow Reynolds Numbers"
2015
2014
Raymond Beale
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
"Applications of Virtual Monitoring of Loads to Engineering Decision Making"
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
"Applications of Virtual Monitoring of Loads to Engineering Decision Making"
2013
Brent Pafford
University of Texas, Austin
"Magnetohydrodynamic Plasma Actuators for Stall Alleviation"
University of Texas, Austin
"Magnetohydrodynamic Plasma Actuators for Stall Alleviation"
2011
Gregory M. Neiswander
US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate
"Improving Deceleration Guidance for Rotorcraft Brownout Landing"
US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate
"Improving Deceleration Guidance for Rotorcraft Brownout Landing"
2010
Joubin Reif
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
“Next Generation Graphene Nanocomposites for Rotorcraft Structural Applications”
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
“Next Generation Graphene Nanocomposites for Rotorcraft Structural Applications”
2009
Laura Buck
The Boeing Company
"CFD Investigation of Engine Exhaust Swirling Flow in High Aspect Ratio Rectangular Ducts"
The Boeing Company
"CFD Investigation of Engine Exhaust Swirling Flow in High Aspect Ratio Rectangular Ducts"
2008
Yvonne T. Fuchs
NASA Langley Research Center
"Vertical Drop Testing and Analysis of the WASP Helicopter Skid Gear"
NASA Langley Research Center
"Vertical Drop Testing and Analysis of the WASP Helicopter Skid Gear"
2007
Jonathan Mitchell
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
"Suppressing Vibrations in the BA609 Tiltrotor: Flight Testing and Innovative Solution"
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
"Suppressing Vibrations in the BA609 Tiltrotor: Flight Testing and Innovative Solution"
2006
J. S. Wilson
Research Scientist
UARC - University of California, Santa Cruz, Ames Research Center
"Turbulence Measurements on a 2D NACA 0036 with Synthetic Jet Flow Control"
Research Scientist
UARC - University of California, Santa Cruz, Ames Research Center
"Turbulence Measurements on a 2D NACA 0036 with Synthetic Jet Flow Control"
2005
Jonathan K. Garhart
Senior Project Engineer
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
“Implementation of Carbon Fiber Composites in Rotorcraft Transmission Housing Applications”
Senior Project Engineer
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
“Implementation of Carbon Fiber Composites in Rotorcraft Transmission Housing Applications”
2004
Jongmin Kim
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
"Flow Control Strategies for Improved Aerodynamic Efficiency of Micro-Rotorcraft"
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
"Flow Control Strategies for Improved Aerodynamic Efficiency of Micro-Rotorcraft"
2003
Cheng-Ho Tho
Bell Helicopters Textron Inc.
"Efficient Helicopter Skid Landing Gear Dynamic Drop Simulation Using LS-DYNA"
Bell Helicopters Textron Inc.
"Efficient Helicopter Skid Landing Gear Dynamic Drop Simulation Using LS-DYNA"
2002
Geoffrey J. Jeram
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Open Design for Helicopter Active Control Systems"
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Open Design for Helicopter Active Control Systems"
2001
Marc Gervais
University of Maryland
"Tiltrotor Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) Noise Control Through Non-Unique Longitudinal Forum Trim"
University of Maryland
"Tiltrotor Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) Noise Control Through Non-Unique Longitudinal Forum Trim"
2000
Craig P. Fuehne
Washington University of St. Louis
"Application of Generalized Floquet Theory to Ground Resonance Data"
Washington University of St. Louis
"Application of Generalized Floquet Theory to Ground Resonance Data"
1999
LCDR, Robert L. King
US Navy
"Nonlinear In-Plane Flexbeam Stiffness Provides Rotor system Stability without Lag Dampers"
US Navy
"Nonlinear In-Plane Flexbeam Stiffness Provides Rotor system Stability without Lag Dampers"
1998
Joseph F. Horn
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Flight Envelope Cueing on a Tilt-rotor Aircraft Using Neural Network Limit Prediction"
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Flight Envelope Cueing on a Tilt-rotor Aircraft Using Neural Network Limit Prediction"
1997
Bryan S. Cotton
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
"Autonomous Flight of the Cypher UAV"
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
"Autonomous Flight of the Cypher UAV"
1996
Andreas P.F. Bernhard
University of Maryland
"Development and Hover Testing of a Smart Trailing Edge Flap with a Piezo-Induced Bending-Torsion Coupled Actuator"
University of Maryland
"Development and Hover Testing of a Smart Trailing Edge Flap with a Piezo-Induced Bending-Torsion Coupled Actuator"
1995
Jeffrey D. Keller
Princeton University
"An Investigation of Helicopter Dynamic Coupling Using an Analytical Model"
Princeton University
"An Investigation of Helicopter Dynamic Coupling Using an Analytical Model"
1994
Jeffrey T. Evernham
Boeing Defense & Space Group, Heli. Division
"Acoustic Noise Suppression for Helicopter Communication Systems"
Boeing Defense & Space Group, Heli. Division
"Acoustic Noise Suppression for Helicopter Communication Systems"
1993
Carl Bauer
The Boeing Company
"A Landing and Takeoff Control Law for Unique-Trim, Fly-by-Wire Rotorcraft Flight Control Systems"
The Boeing Company
"A Landing and Takeoff Control Law for Unique-Trim, Fly-by-Wire Rotorcraft Flight Control Systems"
1992
Hieu T. Ngo
The Boeing Company
The Boeing Company
1991
D. Dale Davis
US Army Aerostructures Directorate
An Accurate Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis And Test Correlation of A Stiffened Composite Wing Panel
US Army Aerostructures Directorate
An Accurate Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis And Test Correlation of A Stiffened Composite Wing Panel
1990
Joshua H. Gordis
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
"A Frequency Domain Theory for Structural Identification"
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
"A Frequency Domain Theory for Structural Identification"
1989
Earl P.N. Duque
Research Scientist
US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate - AVSCOM
"A Numerical Analysis of the British Experimental Rotor Program Blade"
Research Scientist
US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate - AVSCOM
"A Numerical Analysis of the British Experimental Rotor Program Blade"
1988
Brian Hamilton
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co.
"Optimal Design of an Advanced Composite Rotating Flexbeam"
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co.
"Optimal Design of an Advanced Composite Rotating Flexbeam"
1986
Barbara K. Townsend
NASA Ames Research Center
"The Application of Quadratic Optimal Cooperative Control Synthesis to a CH-47 Helicopter"
NASA Ames Research Center
"The Application of Quadratic Optimal Cooperative Control Synthesis to a CH-47 Helicopter"
1985
Michael S. Lewis
AVSCOM Aeromechanics Laboratory
"A Piloted Simulation of One-on-One Helicopter Air Combat at NOE Flight Levels"
AVSCOM Aeromechanics Laboratory
"A Piloted Simulation of One-on-One Helicopter Air Combat at NOE Flight Levels"
1984
Mark Davis
United Technologies Research Center
"Development and Evaluation of a Generic Active Helicopter Vibration Controller"
United Technologies Research Center
"Development and Evaluation of a Generic Active Helicopter Vibration Controller"
1983
Todd R. Quackenbush
"Testing and Evaluation of a Stall Flutter Suppression System Based On Individual- Blade-Control"
"Testing and Evaluation of a Stall Flutter Suppression System Based On Individual- Blade-Control"
1982
Raymond S. Hansen
NASA Ames Research Center
Toward A Better Understanding of Helicopter Stability Derivatives
NASA Ames Research Center
Toward A Better Understanding of Helicopter Stability Derivatives
Jon P. Rogers
Washington University
Application of an Analytical Stall Model to Rotor Dynamics Analysis
Washington University
Application of an Analytical Stall Model to Rotor Dynamics Analysis
1981
Shyi-Yaung Chen
Washington University
Stability and Vibration of Two-Bladed Aeroelastic Rotors on Flexible Supports
Washington University
Stability and Vibration of Two-Bladed Aeroelastic Rotors on Flexible Supports
1980
Kenneth P. Leighton
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research on Model Helicopter Rotor Blade Slap at Moderate Tip Speeds
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research on Model Helicopter Rotor Blade Slap at Moderate Tip Speeds
1979
Ivo Zvolanek
McDonell Douglas Aircraft Co.
Stability of an Unsymmetric Rotor on an Unsymmetric Support
McDonell Douglas Aircraft Co.
Stability of an Unsymmetric Rotor on an Unsymmetric Support
1978
David P. Chappell
Aeromechanics Laboratory, U. S. Army AVRADCOM
Monitoring of Fatigue Loading on Prop-Rotor Systems and Related Components During Tests of the XV-15 Research Aircraft
Aeromechanics Laboratory, U. S. Army AVRADCOM
Monitoring of Fatigue Loading on Prop-Rotor Systems and Related Components During Tests of the XV-15 Research Aircraft
1977
Debashis Banerjee
Washington University in St. Louis
Identification of State Variables and Dynamic Inflow from Rotor Model Dynamic Tests
Washington University in St. Louis
Identification of State Variables and Dynamic Inflow from Rotor Model Dynamic Tests
1976
Thomas W. Sheehy
Aerodynamicist
Sikorsky Aircraft, Aeromechanics Branch
A General Review of Helicopter Hub Drag
Aerodynamicist
Sikorsky Aircraft, Aeromechanics Branch
A General Review of Helicopter Hub Drag
Cached June 18, 2026 11:10:31 PM CDT