Henne to be Inducted into Engineering Hall of Fame

4/1/2013

AE alumnus recognized for excellence in leadership and innovation in the engineering field.

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Aerospace Engineering at Illinois alumnus Preston A. Henne will be inducted into the Engineering at Illinois Hall of Fame on Friday, September 14, 2012.

The Gulfstream executive is one of eight College of Engineering alumni to be recognized for significant accomplishments that represent excellence in leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation of great impact to society. The College’s Hall of Fame creates a timeless tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit and societal impact embodied in engineering education at Illinois since 1870, and pays humble respect to the individuals whose achievements established the tradition of excellence that is the hallmark of an Illinois engineer.

Aerospace Engineering at Illinois alumnus Preston A. Henne
Aerospace Engineering at Illinois alumnus Preston A. Henne
Aerospace Engineering at Illinois alumnus Preston A. Henne

As senior vice president of Gulfstream’s Programs, Engineering and Test and General Dynamics Aerospace Group, Henne BS 69, oversees Gulfstream’s product program management, engineering, and flight operations. His organization led the development of the Gulfstream 550, recognized with the Collier Trophy in 2003, and the Gulfstream 450. Henne’s organization is leading the development of the large-cabin, mid-range G280 and the ultra-large cabin, ultra-long-range G650, both of which are in test flight. Henne also directs advanced design and technology development for future product consideration.

He began his aerospace career in 1969 at McDonnell Douglas, where he managed several advanced programs in aerodynamics and acoustics for both military and commercial aircraft. Known for his work in advanced aerodynamic technology, Henne was responsible for the aerodynamic design of the wing on the C-17, considered the most versatile aircraft in airlift history and winner of the 1994 Collier Trophy for aeronautical achievement.

Henne later served as chief design engineer for the MD-80 aircraft. In 1991, he became vice president and general manager of the MD-90 Program at McDonnell Douglas’ Long Beach Douglas Aircraft facility, where he oversaw the aircraft’s complete development and certification process.

Joining Gulfstream in 1994, Henne is credited with the design, development, test, and certification of the Gulfstream V aircraft, awarded the 1997 Collier Trophy. He became a vice president of General Dynamics in July 1999 when the company acquired Gulfstream.

Henne earned his bachelor’s degree with highest undergraduate honors from AE at Illinois. He earned a master’s degree in engineering from California State University at Long Beach in 1974.

He is an Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Engineering Advisory Board member, an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fellow, and a Royal Aeronautical Society Fellow.

In addition to this latest College of Engineering honor, Henne was recognized in 2005 with the College’s Alumni Award for Distinguished Service.

His awards also include the AIAA Aerodynamics Award (2011) for his technical contributions in applied and computational aerodynamics; the Aviation Leader of the Year Award at the Living Legends of Aviation Awards (2010); the AIAA Engineer of the Year Award (1996); and the AIAA Hap Arnold Award (2001) for excellence in aeronautical program management.

In 2012 he was inducted as a Living Legend of Aviation by the Kiddie Hawk Academy, received an Aviation Week Laureate Award in General/Business Aviation for his contributions to the G650 program, and was presented the AIAA’s highest achievement honor, the Reed Award, for his exemplary leadership in the development, design, testing, and certification of major airplane programs and significant contributions to supersonic boom mitigation.

Henne was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003.


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This story was published April 1, 2013.