AVIATION WEEK named the winners of the 51st Annual Laureate Awards, which recognize exceptional strategy, heroism and leadership in aviation, aerospace and defense.

Congratulations to the team and individual winners in seven categories who have improved their organizations, championed new technologies, and changed aviation history.

• Aeronautics/Propulsion: The Quiet Spike Flight Test NASA/Gulfstream Team—Robert Cowart, Project Engineer, Gulfstream Aerospace; Donald Howe, Staff Scientist, Technical Fellow, Gulfstream Aerospace; Leslie Molzahn, Flight Test Operations Engineer, NASA Dryden Research Center; Frank Simmons III, PhD, P.E., Gulfstream Aerospace; and James Smolka, Research Test Pilot, NASA Dryden Research Center—successfully demonstrated an F-15B nose-boom that may help open supersonic flight over land.
• Business/General Aviation: Jack Pelton, Chairman, CEO and President, Cessna Aircraft Company, significantly extended the line and increased the performance capabilities of general and business aviation aircraft, thus stimulating the marketplace.
• Commercial Air Transport: John Byerly, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs, and Daniel Calleja, Director, Air Transport Directorate, European Commission, made aviation history by liberalizing the airline market for routes between the U.S. and Europe.
• Information Technology/Electronics: Capt. Karen D. Lee, Director of Flight Operations, UPS Airlines; Capt. Robert C. Hilb, Advanced Flight Systems Manager, UPS Airlines; and Paul Fontaine, Program Manager, Safe Flight 21, Federal Aviation Administration (1999 to 2005), pioneered the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) at UPS for increased safety and efficiency.
• Military: Capt. Randy Mahr, E-2D Program Manager, U.S. Navy, developed the new Advanced Hawkeye aircraft with next-generation radar that extends the coverage area well beyond the horizon.
• Operations: The Space Shuttle/Space Station Team of Robotics Officer Sarmad Aziz; Shuttle Lead Spacewalk Officer Dina Contella; Flight Director Derek Hassmann; and Astronaut Scott E. Parazynski innovatively kept the International Space Station assembly sequence on track, using a jury-rigged gear to stitch together a rip in the station's big solar arrays.
• Space: Yoshisada Takizawa, Selene Project Manager, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, sent the largest spacecraft to the Moon since the Russian Luna 24 in 1976.

• In addition the following outstanding individuals were recognized:
• Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement — Mauricio Botelho, Chairman, Embraer. Mr. Botelho built Embraer into the major player it is today with his strong leadership and insightful product strategy for both the regional aircraft and business aviation markets.
• The Breitling Award for Aviation Heroism — The British Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter Crew for a life-saving, 11-hour cave rescue on July 3, 2007. Crew members include Lieutenant Commander Matt Shrimpton (RN), Royal Marine Captain Damien “Daisy” May, Lieutenant Tim Barker (RN), Petty Officer Aircrewman Julian “Bungi” Williams (RN), and Sergeant Mark White (RAF).
• “Tomorrow’s Leader” awards — U. S. Naval Academy Midshipman 1/C John Hesling; U.S. Coast Guard Academy 1/C Joel Kurucar; U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Joseph Robinson; and U.S. Military Academy CDT Christopher Westrom. Each cadet received a Breitling watch from Philippe Bonay, General Manager, Breitling USA.