Aaron Ridley

Aaron Ridley is a Professor in the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan, College of Engineering. He focuses on modeling the near-Earth space environment, particularly the thermosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere, and has developed the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM). His work includes CubeSat missions like CADRE, Atlantis, Columbia, and DSM-BARC, as well as leading the CYGNSS satellite mission. He has served on numerous university and national committees related to space science and education.

• Primary research areas: Space environment modeling, satellite mission design, and space instrumentation
• Key projects: CYGNSS satellite constellation, Geospace Dynamics Constellation STDT leadership, ground-based wind measurement networks

His awards include NASA Group Achievement Award, UM Ted Kennedy Family Faculty Team Excellence Award, and the NCAR HAO Newkirk Fellowship. With over 220 refereed publications and an H-index of 62 (2024), he actively contributes to heliophysics research and education.