AIAA Elects Alex Edsall, Draper Engineering Manager, as Associate Fellow

CAMBRIDGE, MA—The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) elected Draper managing engineer Alex Edsall as an Associate Fellow for 2023. The AIAA will formally welcome the class at its 2023 AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition in National Harbor, Md., in January.

AIAA brings together government, industry and academia to advance aerospace engineering and science in both civil and defense fields. AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace professional society.

The distinction is awarded to individuals who are AIAA Senior Members with at least 12 years of professional experience and outstanding work or contributions to the field of aeronautics or astronautics.

Edsall began his career in underwater acoustics, submarines and sonar before joining Draper in 1982 as a Draper Scholar while earning a Master’s in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his tenure, he has served as technical director for subsystem design for the Trident Life Extension program and engineering manager for space systems and the ballistic missile programs. Under Draper’s sponsored education program, Edsall earned a Master’s in engineering management from Tufts Gordon Institute.

Recently, Edsall served on assignment from Draper as technical advisor to the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs.

Edsall has been active with the AIAA Missile Systems Technical Committee and the AIAA Technical Program Committee for Defense Forum.

Edsall is one of 122 Associate Fellows elected for 2023. A number of current Draper employees hold similar distinction with AIAA. They include Phil Hattis, a Fellow, and six who are Associate Fellows: Kevin Duda, Daniel Keating, Pete Paceley, Michael Ricard, Brandon Stiltner and Marc Weinberg.

Draper is a corporate member of the AIAA.