Four individuals from the Space Biosciences Flight Systems Implementation Branch were recently recognized with NASA Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy awards for their exceptional work: NASA employees David Pletcher and Rudy Cotillion and Fully Integrated Lifecycle Mission Support Services (FILMSS) employees Linda Scibior and Steve Gila.
Pletcher, the Space Biosciences Chief Engineer, was recognized for his outstanding technical leadership in developing life science research hardware for the International Space Station and for mitigating critical issues during a flight mission. Scibior was recognized for her outstanding efforts to develop flight process improvements and training materials for payload development teams that reduced development costs for multiple life science payload projects. Cotillion was recognized for his outstanding work that significantly reduced the costs of flight operational support kits for multiple life science payloads while maintaining or improving quality. Gila was recognized for his key contributions as an exceptionally skilled technician and machinist who supported safety and and mission success on numerous space shuttle and space station biological research missions.
The mission of the Space Flight Awareness Program is to ensure that each and every employee involved in human space flight is aware of the importance of their role in promoting astronaut safety and mission success in the critical, challenging task of flying humans in the hostile environment of space by communicating and educating the Government/industry workforce about human space flight. Of all the Space Flight Awareness Awards, the Silver Snoopy best symbolizes the intent and spirit of Space Flight Awareness. An astronaut always presents the Silver Snoopy because it is the astronauts’ own award for outstanding performance, contributing to flight safety and mission success. Fewer than one percent of the aerospace program workforce receive it annually, making it a special honor to receive this award.
During an awards ceremony at NASA’s Ames Research Center on Aug. 24, NASA Astronaut Robert L. Behnken presented each awardee with a sterling silver Snoopy lapel pin that has flown on a space shuttle mission, a certificate of appreciation and commendation letter for the employee, both signed by the astronaut.