William S. Aiken Jr.

Foil: 25 Panel: 1 Column: 2 Line: 13

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:

Born November 11, 1920 in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Graduated with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering in June 1942, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Forty-three years of U.S. Government service from June 1942 as a Junior Engineer in flight research at the Langley Lab of NACA (now NASA) until retirement in 1985 as Director of Aeronautics at NASA Headquarters. One of the engineers who established in 1946 what is now the Dryden Flight Research Center of NASA.

Internationally recognized for expertise in flight research. Twenty-three years (1962-1985) as a manager of various elements of NASA?’s Aeronautics Programs. Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

In 1998 honored by the National Aeronautic Association as an "?“Elder Statesman of Aviation"?” for "Forty-three years of technical excellence and outstanding leadership in aeronautics research and technology?”."