AIAA National Capital Section June 15, 2010

Dr. Curt Kothera Awarded the 2010 Hal
Andrews Young Engineer Scientist of
the Year from AIAA NCS

Dr. Curt Kothera was awarded the Hal Andrews Young Engineer Scientist of the Year from the National Capital Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics on June 11, 2010, at the National Capital Section’s Annual wards Banquet at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. Dr. Kothera earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech in 2005. Dr. Kothera has been a Program Manager at Techno Sciences Inc. (Beltsville, MD) for the past 5 years. Curt has been developing a number of advanced helicopter rotor actuation ncepts for controllable lag damping and trailing edge flaps for vibration and imary control, as well as morphing technologies for fixed and rotary wings. During this period, he has filed seven patents as a co-inventor, served as Principal Investigator on over $2M in research program funding, and has co-authored eight journal publications, as well as a number of conference publications. Dr. Kothera still finds time to play soccer twice a week in his busy schedule. His citation reads:

“For pioneering research in advanced pneumatic actuation of trailing edge flaps applied to rotorcraft control; mechanized skins for shape morphing wings for unmanned air vehicles and rotor blades; and for technical leadership and program management.”