NASA today is presenting its highest honors — the Distinguished Service Medal and Distinguished Public Service Medal — to employees and contractors from across the agency’s programs, recognizing outstanding achievements in a variety of areas.

“The NASA workforce is an extraordinary group of talented professionals, and each year it is a privilege to celebrate their accomplishments through the Honor Awards,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “At this ceremony, we present both the Distinguished Service Medal and the Distinguished Public Service Medal, which are the highest honors bestowed upon NASA employees. As we publicly recognize the excellent performance of our honorees, I also want to thank the entire workforce collectively for your commitment and dedication to the NASA mission. Because of your efforts, the future is bright at NASA. We will be celebrating groundbreaking achievements in exploration, science, aeronautics and technology in the near future that would not be possible without your hard work today.”

NASA’s most prestigious honor awards are approved by the administrator and presented to a number of carefully selected individuals and groups of individuals, both government and non-government, who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding contributions to the agency’s mission. The chair of the Incentive Awards Board annually requests nominations for the various NASA honor awards. After a rigorous review, the nominations are forwarded to the board chair for approval. NASA medals and certificates are subsequently presented to the recipients by the agency’s highest officials at the annual awards ceremonies held at NASA Headquarters and each NASA Center. 

The 2018 ceremony is being held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

 2018 Agency Honor Awards Program