Rakesh Kapania named editor-in-chief of AIAA Journal of Aircraft
Rakesh Kapania, Norris and Wendy Mitchell Professor of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been named editor-in-chief of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA) Journal of Aircraft.
"Rakesh Kapania’s appointment reflects his outstanding contributions to the field and the high esteem in which he is held by the aerospace research community," said Ella M. Atkins, Fred D. Durham Chair in Engineering and department head of the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering.
The Journal of Aircraft advances the applied science and technology of airborne flight by publishing original archival papers on significant developments in aircraft design, operation, and applications of aircraft technology to other fields.
Kapania has a long history of advancing aerospace research and education. He has authored more than 230 archival journal articles and over 380 conference papers. His mentorship record includes advising 59 Ph.D. students, 76 master’s students, and 20 postdoctoral researchers, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and government.
He earned his Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in 1985 and joined Virginia Tech that same year. His research focuses on computational structural mechanics, smart structures, probabilistic methods, machine learning, unitized structures, computational aeroelasticity, and multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization.
“Rakesh has long been very active and deeply interested in all aspects of scholarly publications,” said Joseph A. Schetz, F. Durham Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech, whose own service to AIAA spans more than 50 years. “He has extensive experience as an author, reviewer, journal associate editor, and advisory board member for AIAA and other organizations.”
Kapania is a fellow of both AIAA and the Royal Aeronautical Society. He has twice served as associate editor for the Journal of Aircraft and served on the AIAA Education Book Series Editorial Board. His contributions have been recognized with the AIAA/ISSMO Award for Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization.
“Few journals have been as instrumental in my professional growth as the Journal of Aircraft,” said Kapania. “Serving as the editor-in-chief will be a way to pay back to the countless readers, the associate editors, and the reviewers of the journal, who helped me to grow in my career as a university professor. It will be an honor to follow in the footsteps of colleagues and previous editors-in-chief Eli Livne and Mark Drela.”
Kapania will begin his new role in January 2026.
