AFRL pioneer receives lifetime achievement award Published May 10, 2007 By Connie Rankin Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has selected Arthur A. Giannetti Jr., for the Otto C. Winzen Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Giannetti recently retired from a 46-year career with the Air Force and as program manager with the Air Force Research Laboratory's High Altitude Research Balloon program. Mr. Giannetti received this award for his contributions and achievements in the advancement of free flight balloon systems. Several balloon programs he conducted and managed established stratospheric balloons as reliable aerospace testing platforms. The success of these balloon flights has led the way for future planetary exploration missions and earth observations systems. He will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 23, in conjunction with the AIAA Balloon Systems conference in Williamsburg, Va. Otto C. Winzen was known for introducing new balloon materials and construction methods, particularly polyethylene resin which is light, inexpensive and unaffected by ultraviolet radiation. Mr. Giannetti currently works with the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology as a consultant to the Air Force Research Laboratory and the technical advisor to the Missile Defense Agency's High Altitude Airship. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electronic engineering from Northeastern University, Mass.