Aerospace Engineering (AE) professor and NASA Chief Technologist, Bobby Braun, has been honored by the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) with the Von Karman Lectureship in Astronautics. The award is given annually to someone who has performed notably and distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics. Braun was recognized for significantly advancing the understanding of the challenge of Mars entry, descent, and landing, and for the development of concepts and technologies enabling Martian exploration programs.

As part of the award, Braun delivered the speech "Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Technology Advancements" during the AIAA's 49th Aerospace Sciences Meeting in Orlando. The award honors Theodore von Karman, an early astronautics pioneer responsible for breakthroughs in understanding supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization and the value of the swept wing design.

Braun joined the Georgia Institute of Technology in Oct 2003. At Georgia Tech, he led a research and educational program focused on the design of advanced flight systems and technologies for planetary exploration. Braun also was responsible for undergraduate and graduate level instruction in the areas of space systems design, astrodynamics and planetary entry. Braun has more than 20 years experience performing design and analysis of planetary exploration systems as a member of the technical staff at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and the Georgia Institute of Technology. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden named Braun chief technologist on Feb. 3, 2010. Braun serves as the principal advisor and advocate on matters concerning agency-wide technology policy and programs.