General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) team members were recognized by the San Diego section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) with awards for outstanding achievement.
GA-ASI engineers and program teams were awarded for outstanding achievement in aerospace management, aerospace engineering, aerospace organization, and lifetime achievement. The awards were presented at an event hosted by the AIAA on May 3, 2025.
AIAA Award Winners from GA-ASI
Outstanding Contribution to Aerospace Management
Mike Connolly received recognition for his contributions to aerospace management. As senior program manager for GA-ASI’s Leasing Services, he consistently delivers strong customer service and deep product knowledge, earning praise from international clients, including the Indian Navy. His approach to innovation has significantly advanced the company’s leasing operations.
Outstanding Contribution to Aerospace Engineering
GA-ASI Vice President of Hardware Engineering Dan Stenger was honored for his work in aerospace engineering. From 2021 to 2023, he led the engineering oversight and integration efforts for the UK’s Protector UAS under the MQ-9B System Verification program. His leadership helped deliver the first MQ-9B aircraft to a customer, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and coordination with international stakeholders.
Outstanding Achievement by an Aerospace Organization
GA-ASI’s Sonobuoy Dispensing System Team was awarded for outstanding achievement by an aerospace organization. GA-ASI recently developed a ground-breaking Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) as part of a first-ever Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability for the MQ-9B SeaGuardian®. This marked the first sonobuoy deployment capability for an unmanned aircraft.
Lifetime Achievement
James (Jim) Machin received the lifetime achievement award for his four-decade career in advancing UAS technology. One of GA-ASI’s original employees in 1991, Mr. Machin managed the Flight Test Facility and Composite Design and later led the Research and Development team. He directed the design and prototyping of major platforms including Predator®, Reaper®, and Avenger®, and served as principal engineer on more than 20 aircraft projects.
GA-ASI Engineering Vice President Dee Wilson commented, “At GA-ASI, we have the most dynamic and capable team of engineers in all of aerospace. AIAA helps to reinforce my belief each year with the many awards that are given to GA-ASI teams and individuals to recognize their great accomplishments.”
