Meet the 4 Finalists for the 2023 Collier Trophy

Kathy Warden, chair, chief executive officer and president, Northrop Grumman received the 2022 Robert J. Collier Trophy. [Credit: Northrop Grumman]

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has revealed the finalists competing for the 2023 Robert J. Collier Trophy, a prestigious honor recognizing remarkable achievements in aeronautics and astronautics. This year's finalists, representing various sectors of aviation, promise one of the most diverse classes in the award’s history.

The four finalists include:

MagniX for magni650 Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU)
NASA, University of Arizona, and Lockheed Martin for the OSIRIS-REx Team
Reliable Robotics for Advanced Autonomous Flight Systems
U.S. Air Force for the X-62A ACE Team

Amy Spowart, president and CEO of the NAA, emphasized the organization's commitment to recognizing outstanding contributions to aviation and aerospace.

"The Collier Trophy, bestowed since 1911, is the story of aviation innovation and advancement," Spowart said.

READ MORE: Webb Space Telescope Team Earns Collier Trophy

The final round of the Collier Trophy selection process is set for March 21 in Washington, D.C. Each finalist will present their nomination, accompanied by visual aids and presentation slides, followed by a Q&A session with the selection committee.

Spowart expressed anticipation to see who will be honored as the 2023 Collier Trophy recipient.

For additional details and a comprehensive list of Collier Trophy honorees, visit the NAA website.

2023 Collier finalists aerospace advancements Aerospace Engineering Autonomous Flight aviation innovation Collier Trophy electric propulsion NAA National Aeronautic Association

Amy WilderEditor

Amy Wilder is managing editor for Plane & Pilot magazine. She fell in love with airplanes at age 8 when her brother-in-law took her up in a Cessna 172. Pretty soon, Amy's bedroom walls were covered with images of vintage airplanes and she was convinced she'd be a bush pilot in Alaska one day. She became a journalist instead, which is also somewhat impractical—but with fewer bears. Now she's working on her private pilot certificate and ready to be a lifelong student of the art of flying.