Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History

Name: Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History, National Air and Space Museum

Award Amount: Up to $100,000 per year for salary and benefits replacement

Information And Eligibility:
The Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History is a highly competitive, prestigious research fellowship hosted by the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. This 12-month appointment is designed for senior scholars with an established and distinguished record of publication in aerospace history who are engaged in, or preparing to undertake, a major book-length project that will make a significant contribution to the field.

The fellowship is intended to provide scholars with the time, resources, and intellectual environment necessary to complete substantial original research. The selected Lindbergh Chair is expected to conduct in-depth scholarly work drawing upon the Museum’s extensive archival collections, curatorial expertise, and research infrastructure. The appointment encourages close collaboration with museum curators, historians, and researchers, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and scholarly exchange.

A central expectation of the fellowship is active participation in the intellectual life of the National Air and Space Museum. The Lindbergh Chair is required to engage in professional seminars, colloquia, and the Museum’s work-in-progress series, where fellows present ongoing research and receive feedback from peers. These activities support the development of high-impact scholarship while contributing to the Museum’s broader research mission.

Applicants must have a demonstrated record of excellence in aerospace history, aviation history, space history, or closely related disciplines. The fellowship is geared toward scholars whose work has already achieved national or international recognition and who are well-positioned to produce a major publication during the fellowship period. Because the fellowship is residential, applicants must be able to commit to living in the Washington, DC area for the full 12-month term.

The award provides salary and benefits replacement funding of up to $100,000, allowing scholars to take leave from their home institutions or professional positions. This funding structure enables recipients to devote their full attention to research, writing, and scholarly engagement without competing professional obligations.

The Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History represents one of the most significant fellowships available in the field, offering both financial support and professional distinction. Recipients join a select group of scholars whose work shapes public understanding of aviation and space history through rigorous research and publication.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a senior scholar with a strong and well-established publication record in aerospace history or a related field.
• Must be actively working on or planning a book-length scholarly project.
• Must be able to commit to a full-time, 12-month residential fellowship in the Washington, DC area.
• Must be willing to participate in museum seminars, colloquia, and research presentations.

Application Requirements:

• Completed fellowship application.
• Detailed research proposal outlining the book project and its significance.
• Curriculum vitae demonstrating a distinguished publication record.
• Supporting materials as required by the Smithsonian fellowship program.

Deadline: December

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