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By Jim Cawley
NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center
When Anton Kiriwas learned he was nominated for a Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Stellar Award, he researched the history and soon discovered its significance. He was particularly impressed by the list of those who had received it, including colleagues and mentors he looks up to at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“I didn’t have any expectation of winning, especially after hearing all of the amazing nominations during the RNASA luncheon,” said Kiriwas, an operations project engineer within the Systems Engineering Division of Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) at Kennedy. “When I did hear my name, it almost didn’t click that I had won. My wife had to poke me and tell me to get up and walk up to the stage.”
Kiriwas, who has been with NASA for nine years, was a winner in the early career category. He received the award for his outstanding EGS Ground & Flight Software Applications technical integration. He also was recognized for exceptional leadership contributing to the success of the Nation’s Deep Space Exploration mission.
“Anton is an excellent engineer with strong leadership and communications skills,” said Kiriwas’ supervisor, Hung Nguyen. “He brings a broad experience base to any team he leads or supports, and he’s very passionate about our mission of Human Space Exploration.”
As part of the group of 2018 RNASA nominees, Kiriwas was honored during a black-tie banquet at the Houston Hyatt Regency hotel on April 27. That included a handshake with astronaut Peggy Whitson, which he said made him feel “incredibly honored.”
Stellar Awards nominations are reviewed by an evaluation panel of distinguished scientists, engineers, managers, and academicians. Winners are chosen based on whose accomplishments hold the greatest promise for furthering future activities in space.