HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., today honored 184 individuals and 60 teams from its civil service and contractor workforce — all of whom made critical contributions to the nation’s space program and NASA’s ongoing mission of exploration and discovery over the past year.
Dr. Michael Ryschkewitsch, NASA chief engineer at NASA Headquarters in Washington, and Marshall Center Director David King presented awards to individuals and groups, recognizing their achievements.
Winners of the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive award were Marshall Chief Financial Officer Pam H. Cucarola; Daniel L. Dumbacher, director of Marshall’s Engineering Directorate; and Joan A. “Jody” Singer, deputy manager of Marshall’s Space Shuttle Propulsion Office. The Presidential Rank awards honor federal executives who demonstrate integrity, strength and commitment in execution of their government duty. Each recipient was nominated by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, evaluated by a panel of private citizens and ultimately chosen by President George W. Bush in late 2007.
NASA Distinguished Service Medals were presented to NASA Archaeologist Thomas L. Sever of the Science and Mission Systems Office at Marshall; and Thomas D. Wood, chief engineer of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Project. Sever received the award for exemplary leadership and accomplishment in the study of “space archaeology” — using NASA remote sensing technology and other space-based systems to uncover ancient ruins in Central America. Wood was awarded for diligent service, technical ability and rigorous standards overseeing the critical solid rocket booster project for Marshall’s Shuttle Propulsion Office.
James R. Bathurst, a senior systems analyst for Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville, received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest honor NASA confers on non-government employees. Bathurst received the award for his work as co-developer of the International Space Station payload display assessment process, which ensures the clarity and user-friendliness of all written, graphic and computerized controls and displays used by payload specialists in support of science on station.
NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medals were presented to Katherine P. Van Hooser, chief engineer for the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project at Marshall; and Thomas F. Zoladz, an unsteady flow and acoustics engineer in the Fluid Dynamics Branch of the Engineering Directorate’s Propulsion Systems Department.
Van Hooser received the award for her lead role on an engineering team that investigated and resolved safety issues related to seals in the space shuttle main engine’s high-pressure oxidizer turbopump, which boosts the pressure of the liquid oxygen and helps convert liquid fuel to gas for ignition and thrust during shuttle tests and launches. Zoladz earned the distinction for contributing to improvements made to space shuttle flowliners, metal components that direct propellant flow through fuel lines in the shuttle main propulsion system.
NASA’s Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal was presented to Barbara M. Shannon, a management support assistant in the Shuttle Propulsion Office, for exemplary performance in managing a broad range of administrative, budget, procurement, communications and facility-related duties for the office.
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals were awarded to six Marshall employees: David E. Beaman, manager of the Reusable Solid Rocket Booster Project in the Shuttle Propulsion Office; Deborah S. Bowerman, chief of the Ground Systems Development & Integration Branch of the Engineering Directorate’s Mission Operations Laboratory; John S. Chapman, manager of the External Tank Project in the Shuttle Propulsion Office; Daniel J. Davis, manager of the Ares I upper stage element for Ares Projects; James A. Elliott, manager of the Environmental Engineering & Occupational Health Office, part of the Office of Center Operations; and James L. Reuter, manager of the Vehicle Integration Office for Ares Projects.
Additional awards presented to Marshall employees and contractors included 18 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals, 21 NASA Exceptional Service Medals, four NASA Exceptional Public Service Medals, 40 Marshall Center Director’s Commendation Honor Awards and 31 NASA Group Achievement Awards.
A complete list of award recipients is available in the June 12 edition of “The Marshall Star,” the Marshall Center’s weekly newsletter:
