In June 2022, Dr. James C. Ross from the Experimental Aero-Physics Branch at Ames Research Center received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Ground Testing Award. This award is in “recognition of decades of exemplary service and leadership in ground testing, advancing critical technologies including heavy vehicles, military aircraft, and NASA’s Multipurpose Crew Vehicle Program.” Dr. Ross has worked at NASA Ames Research Center since 1980, mostly in the area of aerodynamics. His first 17 years at Ames were spent at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex studying problems in low-speed aerodynamics ranging from wing-fuselage interference to airframe noise reduction. More recently, he has served as the Aerodynamic Testing Coordinator for the Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Program and has been involved with approximately 45 wind-tunnel tests of Orion from Crew Module entry/descent aerodynamics through powered tests of the Launch Abort System. Dr. Ross received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA and a Master of Engineering Degree in Aerospace Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He earned his Doctorate Degree in Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University.
