March 31, 2025
Ten Texas Engineering alumni of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (ASE/EM) at The University of Texas at Austin have been elected to the Class of 2025 ASE/EM Academy of Distinguished Alumni.
The ASE/EM Academy of Distinguished Alumni was established in 2019 with the vision to foster excellence within the aerospace engineering, engineering mechanics and computational engineering programs in the department through recognition, participation, encouragement and support of the department.
Members are recognized and honored by the academy for leading distinguished careers that include outstanding technical contributions, excellence in leadership and dedication to improving communities.
The members elected to the ASE/EM Academy of Distinguished Alumni for 2025, shown from left to right above, are:
Tobin C. Anthony
CEO, Space Systems Integration, LLC
Russell Carpenter
Deputy Project Manager/Technical, Space Science Mission Operations, NASA GSFC
Edmundo Corona
Principal Member of the Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories
Randal Robert Craft, Jr.
Retired Partner, Head, National Aviation Industry Team and the New York Litigation Group, Holland & Knight LLP Law Firm
Will Girard
Director of Engineering Talent, Bell Textron Inc.
Steven Hirshorn
Chief Engineer for Aeronautics, NASA Headquarters, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Justin Hamilton Kerr
Chief Engineer, Mark 1 Lunar Lander, Blue Origin
Hailey Nichols
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Locus Lock
Carrie Dumas Olsen
Program Manager, Next Gen STEM, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of STEM Engagement, NASA Headquarters
James Woodburn
Chief Orbital Scientist and Ansys Fellow, Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI)
An in-person banquet and ceremony will take place on the UT Austin campus on April 4 to recognize these alumni for their achievements and to officially induct them into the academy.
View the full list of 2025 inductees and their bios on our website.
