Alumnus Riley Selected as AIAA Fellow

2/5/2014 Susan Mumm, Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Media Specialist

Aerospace Engineering at Illinois graduate David R. Riley is now an AIAA Fellow.

Written by Susan Mumm, Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Media Specialist

Dr. David R. Riley
Dr. David R. Riley
Dr. David R. Riley
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has designated Aerospace Engineering at Illinois alumnus David R. Riley as an AIAA Fellow.

This distinction is conferred upon those members of the Institute who have made notable and valuable contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics and astronautics.

Riley, BS 77, has worked on high technology aerospace products ranging from front-line fighter aircraft to transport aircraft, and from VSTOL aircraft to winged spacecraft.

In 1977 Riley joined McDonnell Douglas, working on stability and control and flying qualities of the F-15 and F/A-18.  In the mid-80s, he worked as a member of the X-29A flight test team at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility. He then returned to St. Louis and managed a research team developing new high angle of attack flying qualities criteria and performing innovative research in aircraft agility.

In the early 90s, Riley worked on the flight control development efforts of multiple programs including the C-17, A/F-X, AV-8B, T-45, and ASTOVL. He led the flight control development team for the McDonnell Douglas/Northrop Grumman/British Aerospace JAST program. As part of the  McDonnell Douglas merger with Boeing in 1998, he  led the Boeing JSF flight control development team. He later took over the management of a Phantom Works research group, refining technology for the X-40A and X-37 space planes, X-36, the Sonic Cruiser, and multiple classified programs.

Riley has served as program manager for several Air Force Research Laboratory programs including the Active Aeroelastic Wing Program and the Automated Aerial Refueling Program. Currently, he is the Integrated Vehicle Energy Technology (INVENT) program manager.

Riley has been active in AIAA for many years by leading technical committees and serving on the Board of Directors and as a St. Louis Section advisor. He has served on the AE at Illinois’ Alumni Constituency Board since 1988.

Riley has over 25 technical publications, and his honors and awards include an AE Department  Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1995, and the Boeing Research and Technology 2008 Gold Team Award.

In addition to his AE degree, Riley holds master’s degrees in management of technology and engineering management from Washington University in St. Louis.


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This story was published February 5, 2014.