More than 100 NASA Glenn Research Center staff members earned awards for their exemplary accomplishments in science, engineering, technology, leadership and administrative service as well as their contributions to NASA’s mission during the 2018 NASA Agency Honor and Center Awards Ceremony in Cleveland Sept. 24.
Janet Kavandi, Glenn’s center director, presided over the ceremony and introduced David McBride, director of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, as the keynote speaker before joining him on stage to present the awards.
“The contributions made by our award recipients demonstrate a clear dedication to NASA and personify why the people of NASA are our greatest asset,” Kavandi said. “I am pleased and proud to present these awards to our award recipients, who reflect the highest level of commitment to the center and the agency.”
NASA Glenn is proud to recognize the following Agency Honor Award and Center Award recipients:
Agency Honor Awards
NASA’s most prestigious honor awards are approved by the administrator and presented to a number of carefully selected individuals and groups of individuals, who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding contributions to the agency’s mission.
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to government employees for notable leadership accomplishments that have significantly influenced the NASA Mission through achieving results, being a role model, leading people and influencing change.
- Luis R. Beltran
- Robert M. Button
- Seth A. Harbaugh
- Thomas A. Spicer
- John E. Zuzek
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to a government employee for sustained performance that embodies multiple contributions that contribute to NASA projects, programs or initiatives.
- Phillip B. Abel
- Wade T. Arida
- Vicki L. Hagerman
- Gerald M. Hill
- Michael J. Kinkelaar
- Mark D. Klem
- Craig I. Mehl
- Donald T. Palac
- Joseph G. Ponyik
- Osvaldo Rivera
- James W. Roeder
- Darlene S. Walker
- Janet L. Watkins
NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to a non-government employee for sustained performance that embodies multiple contributions that contribute to NASA projects, programs or initiatives.
- Douglas O. Doza
- Christopher E. Fulton
- James J. Hritz
- Joseph A. Ogonek
- Tracy A. Sprouse
- Dean A. Szabo
NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal
This award is given for individual efforts for exceptional engineering contributions toward achievement of the NASA mission.
- Rodger W. Dyson
- Richard K. Evans
- David W. Plachta
NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
The award is given for individual efforts that have resulted in a key scientific discovery or resulted in contribution(s) of fundamental importance in this field or significantly enhanced understanding of the field.
- Dean Tigelaar
NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to individuals for exceptional technology contributions achieved in development, collaboration or utilization.
- Isaiah M. Blankson
- David L. Ellis
- Michael C. Halbig
- Richard C. Reinhart
Equal Employment Opportunity Medal (EEOM)
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to individuals for outstanding achievement and material contribution to the principles and goals of NASA’s Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity, and Inclusion Programs, either within the government or within community organizations or groups.
- Diana I. Centeno-Gómez
Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal (EAAM)
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to any civil service employee in the NASA Classification 500 Group (or non-government-equivalent) for a significant, specific achievement or contribution that clearly demonstrates a substantial improvement in administrative support contributing to NASA’s mission.
- Debra K. Clevenger
Exceptional Achievement Medal (EAM)
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to any government employee for a significant specific achievement or substantial improvement in operations, efficiency, service, financial savings, science or technology that contributes to NASA’s mission.
- David J. Arend
- Ralph H. Jansen
- Kimberly A. Johnson
- Richard S. Kurak
- Lynn N. Smith
- Laurel J. Stauber
- Joyce S. Wanhainen
- James R. Yuko
NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to any non-government individual or to an individual who was not a government employee during the period in which the service was performed for sustained performance that embodies multiple contributions on NASA projects, programs or initiatives.
- Michael D. Dyke
NASA Early Career Achievement Medal
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to any government employee for unusual and significant performance during the first 10 years of their early career in support of the agency.
- Azlin Biaggi-Labiosa
- John O. Bobanga
- Richard F. Bozak
- Douglas A. Cooper
- Ashlie B. Flegel
- Eric T. Hartman
- Logan J. Larson
- Taylor N. Lewis
- José A. Lombay-González
- Leah M. Nakley
- Haley A. Proszek
- Francisco Solá-López
NASA Early Career Public Achievement Medal
This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to any non-government individual for unusual and significant performance during the first 10 years of their early career in support of the agency.
- Erin P. Hubbard
- Laura-Cheri E. King-Steen
- Monica N. Willbond
NASA Silver Achievement Award
This achievement medal is awarded to teams or individuals for a stellar achievement that supports one or more of NASA’s core values, when it is deemed to be extraordinarily important.
- Gregory T. Buchar
- David T. Chelmins
- Vanessa F. Easterling
- Michael A. Evans
- Dale A. Hopkins
- Dongwon Lee
- Adabelle Narvaez-Legeza
- Suzanne M. Quintile
- Desa Rakic
- Joseph M. Roche
NASA Career Service Recognition Awards
Forty-Year Service Award:
- Carmela Bynum
- CynthiaD. Forman
- Gary E. Gorecki
- George R. Harpster
- Heriberto M. Medina
- Donald T. Palac
- Osvaldo Rivera
- Denise L. Ryant
- Robin H. Strohacker
- Queito P. Thomas
- Nicholas C. Varaljay
Forty-five Year Service Award:
- Michael A. Micham
Fifty-Year Service Award:
- Mack G. Thomas
Fifty-five-Year Service Award:
- Albert J. Juhasz
- Peter M. Sockol
Center Awards
Abe Silverstein Medal for outstanding research contributions by a Glenn civil service employee.
- Othmane Benafan
Steven V. Szabo Engineering Excellence Award for excellence in engineering that contributes to Glenn’s mission.
- Christopher Dellacorte
- Thomas W. Goodnight
- Samuel A. Howard
- Kevin E. Konno
- RichardA. Manco
- Daniel Rakes
- Linda H. Yoon
Craftsmanship Award for craftsmanship performed by a skilled technician.
- Kevin A. McCormick
- Michael R. Pastel
- Joseph J. Hujo
- Thomas A. Bollinger
- Michael Perez
- Brian A. Brandenburg
- David Cotton
- Derick L. Espenschied
- Joseph F. Kerka
- Robert S. Tomsic
Support Assistant/Clerical Awards for civil service support assistants and clerical personnel who have performed in an exceptional manner over the past year.
- Leslie A. Wiener
Distinguished Publication for outstanding scientific or engineering paper.
- Jeffrey J. Berton
- Scott M. Jones
- Jonathan A. Seidel
- Dennis L. Huff
Diversity Leadership for significant contributions that encourage, promote, practice, and leverage diversity in support of achieving an inclusive environment.
- Dovie E. Lacy
Supervisor Award for exceptional levels of achievement that create a positive and productive work environment for employees.
- Gwendolyn D. Flowers
Individual Safety Award for exemplary performance in contributing to the quality and/or safety of products, services, processes, or management programs and activities, and significant contributions in assuring mission success while embracing safety as a core value.
- Maria Theresa A. Havenhill
Team Safety Awards for exemplary performance in contributing to the quality and/or safety of products, services, processes, or management programs and activities, and significant contributions in assuring mission success while embracing safety as a core value.
- Brian Laney
Allen R. Turner - Jeffrey A. Chambers
- James M. Downey
- Michael D. Dyke
- Timothy J. Fiorilli
- Gregory P. Frederick
- James J. Hritz
- Joyce A. Jordan
- Evan J. Katz
- Kevin M. Lambert
- Elizabeth A. McQuaid
- Félix A. Miranda
- Christopher J. Mong
- Ryan J. Munro
- Jennifer M. Nappier
- Marie T. Piasecki
- Jeffrey T. Reilly
Robert R. Romanofsky - Mordecai Scheckter
- Kevin J. Stiles
- Sarah A. Tedder
- Larry Verdier
- Colman M. Zsiros
Jan Wittry
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
216-433-5466
jan.m.wittry-1@nasa.gov