Alum Appointed Space Domain Lead for AIAA

news story image

Department of Aerospace Engineering alum Brent Sherwood, M.S. ‘88 was appointed to the role of Space Domain Lead for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Sherwood is one of three individuals appointed to the newly created domain lead positions within AIAA designed provide strategic thought leadership that assists AIAA, the aerospace community, and the broader global society.

According to a story in Aerospace America by AIAA, the Space Domain Lead will assist in developing actionable strategies to address the fundamental challenges for space which Sherwood outlines as the “1) Rapid proliferation of simultaneously operating assets, such as constellations in low Earth orbit; 2) Opening new regions of space to routine operations by multiple actors, especially cis-lunar space and the lunar surface; and 3) Emergence of the independent space sector and implementation of new public-private partnership models.”

Space holds the key to the unlimited future of human civilization in the cosmos. Humility, ambition, and collaboration should motivate everything we do.

Alum Brent Sherwood, M.S. '88

Sherwood recently retired from Blue Origin where he was the Senior VP for Space Systems Development. Prior to Blue Origin, he spent 14 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leading planetary mission formulation, and before that, 17 years at Boeing leading space mission concept development, program development, business development, manufacturing engineering (Space Station), and concept engineering (lunar/Mars, robotic and human exploration).

Between his expansive career in space systems, and a true passion for the work he has pursued, Sherwood brings extensive experience, insight, and passion for space exploration to his AIAA role, saying “Space holds the key to the unlimited future of human civilization in the cosmos. Humility, ambition, and collaboration should motivate everything we do.”

In 2021, Sherwood committed to establishing the Brent Sherwood Space Architecture Endowed Undergraduate Research Award in Engineering through a future estate gift. This unique fund will support future engineers with an eye towards building for life in space and will provide for students conducting research in space architecture.

Published April 25, 2024