NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale has been honored with a 2006 Women’s World Award for her “pioneering spirit, vision and commitment to exploring the fascinating realm of space.”
Dale, the highest ranking woman in the history of the space agency, recieved the 2006 World Achievement Award at a gala ceremony in New York City on Saturday, Oct. 14. “Shana Dale has proven beyond a doubt,” reads the Women’s World Award Web site, “that not only is it not just a man’s world, but it’s also very much a woman’s universe.”
Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, president of the World Awards since 2000, hosted the ceremony along with actress Teri Hatcher. The first World Awards were presented to men in 2000. The women’s award began in 2004.
Other honorees this year include Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jordan’s Queen Noor. Oprah Winfrey, Christiane Amanpour and others have won in the past. Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, Shana L. Dale began her duties as NASA’s Deputy Administrator in November 2005.
Before coming to NASA, Dale was deputy director for Homeland and National Security for the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Executive Office of the President. She co-chaired the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Homeland and National Security and supervised work of the subcommittees. Dale previously served as the chief of staff and general counsel at OSTP. In this position, she led and managed the staff officials involved with homeland and national security, legislative affairs, press operations, legal and ethical issues, the federal research & development budget, and internal budget and administration.
Earlier in her career, Dale served as the assistant vice chancellor for federal relations at the University of Texas System, Federal Relations Office in Washington. In addition, Dale has 10-plus years of service on Capitol Hill including her tenure as staff director to the House subcommittee on space and aeronautics. Dale also served on the board of directors for Women in Aerospace for four years.
