ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- Dr. Frank Steinle, an Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) engineer at AEDC, has been elected as one of the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fellows.  ATA is the support contractor for AEDC. 

Dr. Steinle will be inducted as an AIAA Fellow at the Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala May 13, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, in Washington, D.C. 

Laura McGill, the chief engineer for Air Warfare Systems at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz., said, "I nominated Dr. Steinle for this honor to recognize his career achievements as a technical leader and aerodynamicist who has made numerous significant contributions to the development of critical aircraft systems and major U.S. testing facilities. 

He is recognized across the aerospace industry for his expertise in wind tunnel testing." 

McGill, who is the vice president of technical activities on behalf of the AIAA, said the AIAA Fellows Award is an extremely prestigious honor conferred by the AIAA and its board of directors upon those members of the institute "who have made notable and valuable contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics." 

Dr. Steinle began his professional career in 1962 as a U.S. Air Force officer and test engineer at NASA Ames Research Center, Calif. 

He received his commission upon graduation with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from A&M College of Texas (now Texas A&M University). 

In 1965, he left active duty, transitioned to civil service and continued to work at NASA Ames until 1994. While with NASA, he earned a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics with a focus on gas dynamics from Stanford University, Calif., and a doctorate in engineering from Texas A&M College. 

He has been at AEDC for 12 years and is assigned to ATA's Technology and Analysis Branch, Facilities and Test Techniques Section.