2024 PRESS/PHOTO INFORMATION
Press Release
Rotary Gala Honors Heroes of Space
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
April 5, 2024
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.com
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation will recognize members of the space industry at their annual space awards gala on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Houston Hyatt Regency.
The RNASA Foundation was formed by the Space Center Rotary Club in 1985, to publicly recognize the unsung heroes of America's space program alongside the more well-known achievers. This year, the RNASA Foundation will present the 2024 National Space Trophy, to Dr. Christopher Scolese, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Former Johnson Space Center Director, Mike Coats, will present the prestigious award to Dr. Scolese.
Freelance writer Mark Carreau will present the Space Communicator Award to ABC News Producer, Gina Sunseri.
Gerald Griffin, former NASA Apollo Flight Director and former Director of the Johnson Space Center, will receive the Corona Award which has only been presented four times in RNASA's 37-year history. The award will be presented by Vanessa Wyche, Johnson Space Center Director.
Kristin Fisher, CNN Space and Defense Correspondent, will serve as Emcee and NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins, will present an OMEGA watch to Scolese at the closing of the program.
The National Space Trophy honoree is selected each year by the RNASA Foundation's Board of Advisors. This board represents a Who's Who of government and corporate aerospace leaders, including former Trophy and Space Communicator Award recipients.
In addition to the National Space Trophy, stellar awards will be presented to people in early career, mid career, late career, and team categories. RNASA Chairman Rodolfo González said, "We received an impressive 161 stellar nominations this year, 40 government and 117 corporate, and 4 government/corporate joint team." The nominations came from Aegis Aerospace, Aerojet Rocketdyne/L3Harris, Air Force Research Laboratory, ARES Corporation, ASRC Federal, ASTRION, Axiom Space, Barrios Technology, Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, Collins Aerospace, Jacobs, KBR, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, MRI Technologies, NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, NASA Kennedy Space Center, NASA Langley Research Center, Northrop Grumman, Paragon Space Development Corporation, S&K Global Solutions LLC, SAIC, United Launch Alliance, and the United States Space Force.
Of all the nominations, only a few Stellar awards are given, and are announced the evening of the banquet. The winners will receive engraved marble trophies generously sponsored by Northrop Grumman. The trophies will be presented by NASA Astronauts "Woody" Hoburg and Jasmin Moghbeli.
The RNASA Stellar Awards Evaluation Panel ranks the nominations received from industry and government in all categories, based on whose accomplishments hold the greatest promise for furthering activities in space and the extent to which the nominee meets the goal of recognizing "unsung heroes". The 2024 Stellar judges are Michael Coats, Eileen Collins, Sandra Magnus, and Michael Hawes.
The Stellar Award nominees and team representatives will enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Johnson Space Center and a luncheon where all are recognized with mounted certificates and a Fisher Space Pen donated by the company. The Fisher Space Pen was originally carried by the astronauts of the Apollo moon missions and is still used on manned space flights to this day. They are precision assembled, hand tested, and guaranteed to perform underwater, at any angle including upside down, in extreme temperatures, and of course in zero gravity. The keynote speaker at the luncheon will be astronaut Thomas Marshburn.The reception begins at 6 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m with a welcome by RNASA Chairman Rodolfo González. Following will be a presentation of the colors by Clear Brook High School Army JROTC, accompanied with the national anthem sung by Danny Myers. Reverend David Bridges, Executive Director of the Clear Creek Family Promise will provide the invocation. After dinner, the awards ceremony will kick off with a multimedia show summarizing the year's space events produced by Space City Films.
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Press Release
Gerald "Gerry "Griffin, former NASA Apollo Flight Director and Director of the Johnson Space Center, to receive the 2024 RNASA Corona Award
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
February 8, 2024
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.com
Gerald Griffin. (RNASA photo, 2024).
The Corona Award was created to recognize the achievement of America's brightest space explorers. The award is presented only when the RNASA Foundation deems that exceptional merit and opportunity require it. The three previous honorees include Dr. Robert Gilruth in 1992, Captain John Young in 1997, and Walter Cronkite in 1999. Griffin was nominated for the award by former NASA Flight Director Eugene Kranz and Griffin Communications Group President Jeffrey Carr. In his nomination letter, Carr wrote, "From the trenches of Gemini flight control to Apollo, Shuttle, classrooms and the halls of Congress, Gerry's legacy of service and leadership is unrivaled, and it is due time for this recognition with the Corona Award."
Griffin joined NASA's Johnson Space Center in 1964 as a flight controller, specializing in guidance, navigation, and control systems for the Gemini and, later, the Apollo programs. In 1968, he was selected as Flight Director for Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission. He went on to serve on all nine manned missions to the moon, including the six lunar landings. Gerry served as Lead Flight Director for Apollo 12, 15, and 17. As Flight Director, he orchestrated a Mission Control team of flight controllers, engineers, and specialists who controlled the missions from liftoff to splashdown.
Griffin said of his award, "I am in good company with the three prior recipients of this prestigious award. All three are forever icons in the domain of human space exploration, and it is very humbling to be considered worthy of standing beside them in the aura of the Corona Award."
After the Apollo program drew to a close in 1972, Gerry was summoned to NASA Headquarters, where he was appointed Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs. In this role, he led NASA's efforts with Congress to fund the agency's programs in aeronautics and space, especially the fledgling Space Shuttle Program. He was later named Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Operations, a role in which he was responsible for developing operations policies for the shuttle. In 1976, he transferred to the Dryden Flight Research Center in California as Deputy Director. There, he worked on a series of test flights that would provide key data for the shuttle's landing operations. He was then Deputy Director of the Kennedy Space Center from 1977 through the launch of the first Space Shuttle from Cape Canaveral on April 12, 1981. In 1982, he was named the third director of the Johnson Space Center. Gerry retired from NASA in 1986.
Since 1986, he has served in a myriad of private industry roles, including CEO of the Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce, where he worked with local business leaders to create an expanded economy built on a foundation of aerospace, medicine, and biotechnology. In addition, he has served in numerous private sector leadership roles, including Managing Director of Korn/Ferry-Houston Office, Chairman of the Board of Comarco, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Golden Spike Company, and advisory board member for Aegis Aerospace.
Gerry continues to be a tireless advocate for the future of space exploration. He has made hundreds of speeches and appearances around the globe, promoting the past, present, and future of space. He injects clarity into a complex topic, thereby fueling enthusiasm for continued development. He is a true ambassador to the American space program.
Griffin is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Space Pioneer Award, NASA's Distinguished Service Medal, NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA's Exceptional Service Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the Apollo XIII Mission Operations Team. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Astronomical Society, and the British Interplanetary Society. In addition, he is a member of Schreiner University's Board of Trustees, and is a former member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board appointed by Governor George W. Bush. Gerry holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Texas A&M University and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and the aerospace community to attend the black-tie event on April 26, 2024, at the Houston Hyatt Regency, where Mr. Griffin will be presented with the Corona Award during the 36th annual RNASA Space Awards gala. Please visit rnasa.org to reserve your table, purchase tickets, or inquire about sponsorship opportunities. If you would like to reserve a room for the evening, please contact the Hyatt at 713-654-1234 and inquire about the RNASA group rate.
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Press Release
Gina Sunseri, ABC News Producer, to receive the 2024 RNASA Space Communicator Award
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
February 6, 2024
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.com
Based in Houston, Gina has been a trusted fixture on the ABC News space beat for more than two decades. Her introduction to the space program began in 1996, when one of her earliest assignments was to cover astronaut Shannon Lucid - the only American woman to live aboard the Mir space station. Since then, Gina has produced or contributed to hundreds of articles and broadcast news segments covering Space Shuttle launches, spacewalks, commercial space flight, the International Space Station, five Mars missions, and the much anticipated Artemis II mission scheduled to launch in 2025.
Mark Carreau, Aviation Week & Space Technology Houston Correspondent, and 2006 Space Communicator Award recipient, nominated Sunseri saying, "For over two decades, Gina Sunseri has set a high bar for outstanding coverage of our nation's space programs, educating millions of Americans through her thoughtful and expert productions for ABC News.”" Veronica McGregor, Digital News and Media Manager for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and 2013 Space Communicator Award recipient, says "Her deep understanding of the space program is evident in stories that often provide angles that other media miss. Her dedication to covering the space beat has benefitted the industry as well as ABC and millions of viewers."
Sunseri said of her award, "Being in the same company as previous honorees is truly humbling. I have always tried to make the space program engaging for our viewers - and to share the curiosity, hard work, creativity, and passion of the people who fulfill our desire to explore. I am fascinated by the small stories-- the cat videos from space. The lost tomato. The astronaut who had spicy shrimp cocktail for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of his mission. And of course, Suni Williams' cutting her ponytail in space for charity."
Following the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003, Sunseri reported extensively on the seven astronauts lost aboard STS-107, as well as NASA's investigation of the disaster, and the safety measures that were initiated prior to the 2005 Return to Flight. She was an integral part of the ABC News team that went on to earn an Emmy Award for their investigation and report titled "Columbia Final Mission" which aired on "Primetime Thursday".
When she's not chasing the next story or interviewing a new source, Gina enjoys travel, weather, music, and gardening. She is happily married to John Treadgold, a retired KPRC photographer, and is mom to two children.
The RNASA Space Communicator Award was created in 1997 in honor of KTRK, Houston Channel 13 space reporter and long-time RNASA Advisor Stephen Gauvain who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1996. The award is presented to an individual or team that makes exceptional contributions to public understanding and appreciation of space exploration. The previous recipients of the award are: William Harwood of CBS; Miles O'Brien, formerly of CNN; Elliot Pulham of the Space Foundation; the NASA-Contractor Communications team that responded to the Columbia accident; Mark Carreau, formerly of the Houston Chronicle; Neil deGrasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History; Veronica McGregor, Manager of News and Social Media at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Chris A. Hadfield. former Canadian Space Agency astronaut; Bill Nye (the science guy), CEO of the Planetary Society; Rob Navias, Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Mission commentator; William Shatner, actor, author, producer and director; and Bill Ingalls, senior NASA photographer.
Sunseri will be honored with the 2024 Space Communicator Award at RNASA's Space Awards Gala on April 26, 2024, at the Houston Hyatt Regency. Dr. Christopher Scolese, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), will receive the 2024 National Space Trophy. Please visit rnasa.org to reserve your table, purchase tickets, or inquire about sponsorship opportunities. If you would like to reserve a room for the evening, please contact the Hyatt at 713-654-1234 and inquire about the RNASA group rate.
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Press Release
Dr. Christopher Scolese, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Director, to receive the 2024 National Space Trophy
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
January 23, 2024
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, lindsey@baysidegraphics.net
Rodolfo González, president of the RNASA Foundation, said, "The RNASA Foundation is thrilled to host Dr. Scolese as the guest of honor at the 2024 Space Awards Gala. The annual RNASA Gala is organized to recognize outstanding achievements in our field, and we look forward to celebrating Dr. Scolese's contributions to space discovery, exploration and advancement."
"I am honored to receive the National Space Trophy," Dr. Scolese said. "This award is a tribute to the collaborative efforts of the entire space community, and it fuels my commitment to advancing innovation and exploring the limitless potential of space."
Dr. Scolese was nominated for the award by former Johnson Space Center Director Michael Coats. In his nomination letter, Coats wrote, "Dr. Scolese has consistently demonstrated technical brilliance, exemplary administrative skills, and outstanding leadership during a 32-year NASA career, culminating with 7 years as [Goddard Space Flight Center] Director and currently as the director of the NRO."
Sworn in on August 5, 2019, Dr. Scolese is the 19th NRO director and the first to be presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed. Under his leadership, the NRO develops, acquires, launches and operates a vast network of reconnaissance satellites that provides critical national security data to the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Department of Defense, and America's allies around the world. Dr. Scolese's direction builds on the NRO's legacy of advancing technologies, building key partnerships, and identifying threats around the world.
Dr. Scolese's career began in 1987 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where he served as Earth Observing System (EOS) Systems Manager, EOS Terra Project Manager, EOS Program Manager, and Deputy Director of Flight Programs and Projects for Earth Science. In 2001, he was assigned to NASA's Washington, D.C., office, where he served in a variety of positions beginning with Deputy Associate Administrator of Space Science. In this role, Dr. Scolese managed the oversight of NASA's Space Science Flight Program, technology development and contract management of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In 2004, he returned to Goddard Space Flight Center as Deputy Director before shifting back to NASA headquarters as Chief Engineer in 2005. In 2007, he was appointed NASA's Associate Administrator, overseeing the agency's programmatic and technical efforts. Between January and July 2009, Dr. Scolese served as NASA's Acting Administrator.
Dr. Scolese returned to Greenbelt, Maryland, in 2012, as Director of Goddard Space Flight Center. While there, he led a team of scientists, engineers, and technologists in the development of systems for Human Space Flight, Astrophysics, Planetary and Earth Science missions, as well as missions for NOAA and USGS including the James Webb Telescope. The James Webb Telescope is an ambitious project that launched in 2021 and has returned staggering images of the first galaxies that were formed more than 13 billion years ago. Dr. Scolese retired from NASA in 2019.
Dr. Scolese is the recipient of numerous honors including the 2018 AIAA Von Karman Award, the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive, the NASA Distinguished Leadership Medal, Goddard Outstanding Leadership, and two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Dr. Scolese holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of New York at Buffalo; a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from George Washington University; and a Ph.D. in systems engineering from George Washington University.
The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and the aerospace community to attend the black-tie event on April 26, 2024, at the Houston Hyatt Regency, where Dr. Scolese will be presented with the National Space Trophy during the 36th annual RNASA Space Awards gala. Please visit rnasa.org to reserve your table, purchase tickets, or inquire about sponsorship opportunities. If you would like to reserve a room for the evening, please contact the Hyatt at 713-654-1234 and inquire about the RNASA group rate.
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