presents the
AIAA Young Professionals, Students, and Educators (YPSE) Conference
Announcements
(8/25/2025) Registration for YPSE 2025 is now open!
When:
November 21st 2025
Where:
Kossiakoff Center, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723
We are looking for 15-20 minute technical presentations in any area of interest to the aerospace community by young professionals (age 35 and under), graduate, undergraduate, high school students, and educators. Topics can be technical in nature or focus on Gender, Generation, and Geography (3G+).
Within the 3G+ track, we are looking for presenters who want to share their story and speak on topics including but not limited to under-representative communities in Aerospace, dealing with imposter syndrome/burnout, authenticity, empowerment and outreach, intersectionality etc. We know this is a broad track; we want you all to have the freedom to speak on anything you are passionate about within 3G+.
The titles for the winning technical presentations from past years can be found in the Past Conferences tab. Technical presentations will be scored on various criteria including ability to convey impact of work, demonstrate knowledge of the technical area, methodologies, communication, and more. Awards (Certificate and cash prizes) will be given to exceptional presentations in the various categories listed above.
For questions, contact aiaa.midatlantic+YPSE@gmail.com.
We need volunteers to serve as judges and session chairs. Those interested in volunteering should email aiaa.midatlantic+YPSE@gmail.com for more information.
Important Dates:
Call for abstracts: June 1st, 2025
Early Bird Registration Closes: October 19th, 2025
Abstracts Due: October 26th, 2025
Presenter Full Presentations Due: November 16th, 2025
Registration Closes: November 19th, 2025
Conference Date: November 21st, 2025
Agenda for YPSE 2025:
Technical Keynote for YPSE 2025:
Dr. Jason S. Kalirai
Keynote Title: “Space Exploration at Johns Hopkins APL“
Dr. Jason S. Kalirai is the mission area executive for Space Formulation within the Space Exploration Sector at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). He leads a mission area responsible for the formulation of all new APL civil space initiatives, oversight of the Laboratory’s large portfolio of space science grants and cooperative agreements, and integrated initiatives that cut across our nation’s civil and national security space domains -- enabling game-changing missions and instruments on behalf of new and existing sponsors. Prior to his current role, Dr. Kalirai served as mission area executive for Civil Space, where he led the implementation of innovative and cost-effective solutions to critical civil space challenges by developing space science missions, instruments, and research programs. Dr. Kalirai earned a B.S. (with honors) in physics and astronomy, an M.S. in astrophysics, and a Ph.D. in astrophysics, all from the University of British Columbia
Gender, Generation, and Geography (3G+) Keynote for YPSE 2025:
Mr. Dennis Woodfork
Dennis Woodfork is the mission area executive for National Security Space at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). In this role, he is responsible for APL programs that focus on space solutions to meet critical national security challenges. Mr. Woodfork has a long track record of impactful leadership across national security space programs, including APL efforts to advance test and evaluation range operations, digital infrastructure, and on-orbit range instrumentation for the U.S. Space Force and its mission partners. He has also provided crucial space policy and strategy advice to Department of Defense senior leadership to meet time-critical requests for astronaut recovery efforts, long-term space investment, global joint force actions, and technical expertise on a space debris removal road map—all to ensure the nation’s success in the space domain. He previously served as deputy mission area executive for National Security Space, leading several cross-functional teams and directly supporting combatant commander priorities at U.S. Space Command in the areas of offensive and defensive space operations, cyber operations, and multi-domain effects. Prior to joining APL in 2016, Mr. Woodfork served as a member of the technical staff of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where he made technical and leadership contributions in the fields of space asset protection, navigation, and mission design. Mr. Woodfork is an Air Force veteran and a reservist since 2008, currently serving as a colonel. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s degree in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland.
Dragonfly is a NASA New Frontiers mission that aims to assess the surface composition and prebiotic chemistry of Saturn’s moon Titan in the mid-2030s using an autonomous relocatable rotorcraft lander. Titan’s low gravity (approximately 1/7 Earth’s) and dense atmosphere (approximately four times Earth’s) reduce the power required for heavier-than-air flight by an order of magnitude or more relative to Earth. The rotorcraft, targeted to arrive at Titan in 2034, will fly to dozens of promising locations on the moon, with the goal of determining how far prebiotic chemistry has progressed on Titan and what molecules and elements might be available for such chemistry. Ultimately, Dragonfly's traverse target is the 80 km diameter Selk Crater, seeking to find previously liquid water that has mixed with surface organics. Dragonfly marks the first time NASA will fly a vehicle for science on another planetary body.
Featuring for YPSE 2025:
Dragonfly Expo Hall Showcase - Ask. Learn. Connect.
With Special Thanks to our 2025 Conference Signature Sponsor:
Critical Contributions to Critical Challenges
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has provided solutions to national security and scientific challenges with engineering, integration, research and development, and analysis for over 80 years. APL is our nation’s largest university affiliated research center, with more than 8,000 staff members.
Among APL’s thousands of critical contributions to national security and space exploration are a number of defining innovations: game-changing breakthroughs in technology that have created inflection points in history. These revolutionary advances have ignited new engineering accomplishments globally, saved lives, and secured the United States against threats at home and abroad.
- One APL, One Team, One Purpose
Maps and Hotel Information
If you are joining us from out of town, the AIAA Region 1 Mid-Atlantic Section recommends the Residence Inn Fulton at Maple Lawn.
Kossiakoff Center
Residence Inn