The special service award was presented by the JANNAF Executive Committee in recognition of Yang's technical contributions and critical leadership abilities as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Propulsion and Energetics, a position he held from 2009 until 2012.

In delivering the award, the committee commended Yang for "significantly strengthening the publication and disseminatiing peer-reviewed scholarly work in the fields of aerospace propulsion and energetic materials research and development."

Yang's commitment to producing trenchant scholarly publications runs deep. He currently serves as the vice president for Publications of the AIAA and previously served as editor-in-chief of the AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power. He is a co-editor of the Aerospace Book Series of the Cambridge University Press and has served on the editorial advisory boards of virtually all major journals in the fields of combustion, propulsion, and energetic, including AIAA Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics; Progress in Energy and Combustion Science; Combustion and Flame;  Journal of Aeronautics, Astronautics, and Aviation; Journal of Chinese Institute of Engineers; International Journal of Fluid Machinery and System; and Combustion, Explosion, and Shock Waves.

The William R. T. Oakes Professor was surprised and deeply honored by the announcement, but he was quick to find words of gratitude for the many who have supported his work. 

"I appreciate the support and advice that my colleagues have lent me. I don't ever take it for granted," he said.

"They inspire me and remind me daily of what it takes to make a truly important contribution to our field."