NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
{{Distinguish|NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal}}
{{Infobox military award
|name=NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
|image=NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.jpg
|image_size=150px
|caption=
|presenter=the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
|country=United States
|type= Medal
|eligibility= Government employees only
|awarded_for="a significant, specific accomplishment or substantial improvement in operations, efficiency, service, financial savings, science, or technology which contributes to the mission of NASA."
|campaign=
|status=Active
|description=
|clasps=
|established=1991
|firstawarded=
|lastawarded=
|total_awarded=
|total_awarded_posthumously=
|total_recipients=
|individual=
|higher=Outstanding Leadership Medal
|same= Outstanding Service Medal (obsolete)
Exceptional Service Medal
|lower=Exceptional Achievement Medal
Exceptional Service Medal
Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal
Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal
Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal
Equal Employment Opportunity Medal
|image2=80px
|caption2=NASA Exceptional Achievement Ribbon
}}
The NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal is an award of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration established in 1991. The medal is awarded to both civilian members of NASA and military astronauts.
To be awarded the medal, a NASA employee must make substantial contributions characterized by a substantial and significant improvement in operations, efficiency, service, financial savings, science, or technology which directly contribute to the mission of NASA. For civilians, the decoration is typically bestowed to mid-level and senior NASA administrators who have supervised at least four to five successful NASA missions. Astronauts may be awarded the decoration after two to three space flights.
Due to its prestige, the medal is authorized as a military decoration for display on active duty military uniforms upon application from the service member to the various branch of the military in which they serve.
Notable recipients
- Chris Adami, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, physicist
- Richard Arenstorf, Vanderbilt University, mathematician
- Gordon Cooper, astronaut
- Lana Couch (1992), NASA engineer and executive{{cite web|url=https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/People/Awards/Institutional/DEA/DEA_1994/couch_l|title=Lana M. Couch|work=Distinguished Engineering Alumna Award|publisher=Purdue University College of Engineering|date=1994|access-date=2023-08-12}}
- Carl Sagan, astronomer
- Alan Shepard, astronaut
- John Young, astronaut
- Charles L. Bennett, observational astrophysicist
- Nancy Roman, astronomer, NASA executive
- Stephen P. Maran, astronomer
- Holly Ladner, Financial Specialist, NASA Shared Services Center
Selected recipients by year
There are usually more than 100 recipients of this medal annually. For example, there were 177 recipients in 2010.
- Prem Chand Pandey, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1985 (NASA Certificate of Recognition and Cash Award)
- Gary Flandro, University of Tennessee, UTSI, 1998
- Miguel San Martín, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1998
- John R. Casani, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1999, 2000
- Mark P. Stucky, Armstrong Flight Research Center, Eclipse Project Technical Lead & Project Pilot, 1999
- Joan Feynman, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2002
- Adam Steltzner, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2004
- Carlos Ortiz Longo, Johnson Space Center, 2005
- Mian Chin, Goddard Space Flight Center, physical scientist, 2005
- Ashok Srivastava, Ames Research Center, Data Mining and Machine Learning, 2007
- Angelita Castro-Kelly, Mission Operations Manager, 2007{{cite news |title=Fil-Am mom gets NASA medal |url=https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/the-good-news/2010/08/01/598202/fil-am-mom-gets-nasa-medal |accessdate=27 August 2020 |work=philstar.com |issue=1 August 2010 |publisher=PhilStar Global Corp.}}
- Michael H. Hecht, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Research Scientist
- Kobie Boykins, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Senior Mechanical Engineer
- David Y. Oh, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mars Science Laboratory Cross-Cutting Domain Lead
2019 Honorees:
- Rita M. Sambruna, NASA Headquarters{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhUkJ3yQmuU|title=Rita Sambruna Exceptional Achievement Medal 2019|website=YouTube|time=22m00s}}
2024-2025 Honorees:
- Sarah Frazier, Goddard Space Flight Center
- Courtney A. Lee, Goddard Space Flight Center
- Katy Mersmann, Goddard Space Flight Center
- Michelle Thaller, Goddard Space Flight Center
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://nasapeople.nasa.gov/awards/nasamedals.htm NASA awards]
- [https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4012/vol4/appa.htm National Aeronautics and Space Administration Honor Awards] (1969-1978)
{{NASA navbox}}
{{NASA decorations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nasa Exceptional Achievement Medal}}