By Bob Granath
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida
As Hurricane Irma approached Central Florida, the workforce at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center looked to the leadership of experienced professionals such as Wayne Kee, the agency’s emergency manager in Spaceport Integration and Services. Since 1991, he has served as incident commander and lead federal authority for hurricanes Wilma, Katrina, Floyd, Frances, Jeanne and Matthew, providing advice to management and employees as they prepare for approaching storms.
Kee’s career includes service in the U.S. Air Force, as well as to the Florida spaceport and the people of Brevard County. In recognition of his efforts, Kee was inducted into the Space Coast Daily’s Public Service Hall of Fame in a ceremony Sept. 23, 2017, at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida.
According to the award nomination, “During more than 50 years of government service, Kee has developed programs, policies, requirements and emergency response measures necessary to protect citizens during natural and man-made disasters.”
Beginning his government service career in 1966, Kee enlisted in the Air Force where he served 24 years as a fire protection specialist, assistant fire chief, deputy fire chief and fire chief. He also was a member of the Airborne Firefighter Rescue Team and was instructor superintendent at the Air Force Fire Academy.
Kee was incident commander during numerous emergencies while serving in the Republic of Vietnam. These ranged from aircraft crashes, facility fires and explosions. He later served at military locations in the United States and overseas. He culminated his military career as a chief master sergeant and fire chief at Bitburg American Air Base in Germany, the largest F-15 fighter wing in Europe.
As NASA’s emergency manager at Kennedy, Kee was on the first flight out as a member of the NASA Rapid Response Team when the space shuttle Columbia was lost over Texas and Louisiana on Feb. 1, 2003. He also served as the emergency manager representing NASA for recovery efforts while temporarily assigned to the Incident Command Center at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
In addition to his role at the Florida spaceport, Kee coordinated relief efforts for 2005’s Hurricane Katrina disaster for NASA centers and families in Mississippi and Louisiana and functioned as the senior member aboard relief and supply flights.
Kee has been the Rideout Team leader for more than 11 storms affecting the Space Coast over the last 26 years, including Hurricane Irma. Working closely with the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center, he has jointly developed exercises and shared training programs, which have enhanced the programs of both agencies.
In addition to his most recent award, Kee earned numerous military service decorations, including five Meritorious Service Medals and four Commendation Medals. He was also the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for exemplary leadership in planning and execution of hurricane preparation measures, which resulted in the safety of critical national assets. Following last year’s Hurricane Matthew, Kee received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Award for exceptional efforts in leading the Kennedy Rideout Team as incident commander during the storm.