Sidney P. Saucier III, associate director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala., died Monday, Aug. 6.

Saucier, who began his career at Marshall in 1962, was recognized last year
with NASA’s highest honor — the Distinguished Service Medal — for his
“extraordinary contributions to the nation’s space program during his more
than 35 years of service.”

“Sid was a very important part of our family here at Marshall,” said Art
Stephenson, director of the Marshall Center. “His great courage and
commitment inspired all of us. His leadership contributed significantly to
the success of NASA and our nation’s space program. We will miss him.”

In honor of Saucier, the American flag at the Marshall Center is being flown
at half-staff through Monday, Aug. 13.

In 1999, Saucier received NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award.
The award recognized Saucier’s leadership and technical contributions in
numerous areas, including NASA launch and space transportation systems,
upper stage propulsion and propulsion engineering research technology.

After joining Marshall in 1962 as a propulsion and power engineer, Saucier
progressed to engineering and technical management positions of increasing
responsibility. He was project engineer for the RL-10 hydrogen/oxygen engine
in Marshall’s former Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory. He later
joined Marshall’s Program Development Directorate, where he had overall
responsibility for engineering planning and analyses as Marshall worked to
refine advanced space transportation and exploration systems.

In 1980, Saucier was named deputy manager of the Inertial Upper Stage
Project, and was appointed manager in 1982 with added responsibility of the
Transfer Orbit Stage Project. In 1986, he became deputy manager of the
Science and Applications Projects Office. He was appointed its manager in
1987, with responsibilities for the Inertial Upper Stage, the Automated
Rendezvous and Capture Project, the Earth and Space Sciences Projects, the
Microgravity Research Projects and the Global Hydrology and Climate Center.

In 1996, he was appointed director of Marshall’s Propulsion Laboratory.

Saucier, a native of Vicksburg, Miss., had been associate director of the
Marshall Center since 1997.

A graduate of Mississippi State University at Starkville, where he earned a
bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Saucier also attended the
University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Among his numerous awards were NASA’s Presidential Rank of Meritorious
Executive and two NASA Exceptional Service Medals. Active in professional
and civic work, Saucier was an elected member of the Huntsville City Council
from 1972-76. He was past chairman of the Huntsville-Madison County Airport
Authority board of directors, and past president of the Marshall Management
Association.

Saucier is survived by his wife Gloria; three children; six grandchildren;
and his mother, Ophelia Saucier of Vicksburg.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Laughlin-Service Funeral Home in
Huntsville.