2019 Stellar Awards Winners
The 2019 RNASA Stellar Award winners in each of four categories were announced at the banquet on April 26, 2019 at the Houston Hyatt Regency hotel.
The 140 nominations were evaluated by former National Associate Administrator for Space Systems Development, Arnold D. Aldrich, and former National Space Trophy winners, Col. Eileen Collins, USAF (Ret.), Capt. Michael L. Coats, USN (Ret.), and Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.).
A list of all the Stellar Awards nominees was printed in the 2019 program book.
The 2019 Stellar Awards were presented by Astronauts Colonel Mark Vande Hei and Dr. Shannon Walker.
2019 Early Career Stellar Award Winners
Nine awards were presented in the 2019 Early Career Category.
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Mark Vande Hei (presenting), Samuel Anderson, Peter Carow, Dr. William Q. Walker, Capt. Sean M. Frederick, Ebony J. Bowens, Kathleen S. Bonner, Dr. Joseph Shoer, Cassie Wong, Dr. Shannon Walker (presenting). Not pictured: Capt. Andrew R. Hilton. (RNASA photo, 2019)
Samuel Anderson of Collins Aerospace - Exceptional technical leadership to advance additive manufacturing applications for safety and fracture-critical human spaceflight hardware.
Kathleen S. Bonner of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems - Outstanding leadership of Orion attitude control motor valve IPT development and qualification, and distinguished community service through STEM activities.
Ebony J. Bowens of The Boeing Company - Demonstrated leadership, technical accomplishments, and expertise leading the installation, operation, and integration of the International Space Station's new lithium ion batteries on-orbit.
Peter Carow of Oceaneering Space Systems - Outstanding technical knowledge, unwavering attention to detail, and exemplary work ethic in the development of the DARPA Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) Tool Changer project.
Capt. Sean M. Frederick of the United States Air Force - Successful development, delivery, and fielding of a classified, revolutionary capability for a multi-billion-dollar initiative that is reshaping military satellite communications.
Capt. Andrew R. Hilton of the United States Air Force - Outstanding achievements solving complex technical problems on space vehicles, leading to numerous successful satellite deliveries and GPS capabilities to billions of users worldwide.
Dr. Joseph Shoer of Lockheed Martin - Innovative leadership in adapting large program systems engineering and Assembly Test & Launch Operations (ATLO) practices to smaller missions, such as CubeSats, for emerging commercial space markets and government agencies.
Dr. William Q. Walker of NASA Johnson Space Center - Exceptional technical achievements and leadership in supporting NASA's development of safer lithium ion battery systems.
Cassie Wong of Northrop Grumman - Outstanding leadership and exemplary performance in leading the efforts to develop, test and operationally deploy the Cygnus Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles (C2V2) ISS communications system and other emerging space components.
2019 Middle Career Stellar Award Winners
Six awards were presented in the 2019 Middle Career Category.
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L to R: Dr. Shannon Walker (presenting), Timothy J. Lindsey, Dr. Edward B. Bierhaus, Laura A. Shaw, Timothy P. Pepe, Matthew T. Jakubek, Mark Vande Hei (presenting). Not pictured: Marc A. Gibson (RNASA photo, 2019)
Dr. Edward B. Bierhaus of Lockheed Martin - Outstanding contributions to the field of planetary science that successfully combine scientific research with sound engineering implementation, resulting in high-value science for the knowledge of all humankind.
Marc A. Gibson of NASA Glenn Research Center - Outstanding leadership of the groundbreaking Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment, paving a path for NASA space fission power systems.
Matthew T. Jakubek of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Exceptional leadership of the successful development, qualification, and delivery of the CST-100 Starliner CM RCS monopropellant thrusters.
Timothy J. Lindsey of KBRWyle - Outstanding development and coordination in the field of astronaut EVA training and efficient EVA execution.
Timothy P. Pepe of Lockheed Martin - Outstanding leadership associated with driving the successful delivery of hundreds of first-time development mechanisms and pyrotechnic devices for human spaceflight and the Orion Spacecraft Program.
Laura A. Shaw of NASA Johnson Space Center - Exemplary development, certification, and demonstration of innovative hardware and flight techniques to fully utilize the International Space Station as an engineering testbed for Exploration-class Environmental Control and Life Support Systems.
2019 Late Career Stellar Award Winners
Nine awards were presented in the 2019 Late Career Category.
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L to R: SMark Vande Hei (presenting), Federico Merheb, William A. Johns, Don R. Wilbanks, Dr. Tushar K. Ghosh, Gary F. Stewart, Brian Sutter, Stanley A. Bouslog, Shannon Walker (presenting). Not pictured: Dr. Louis Ghosn, William D. Manha (RNASA photo, 2019)
Stanley A. Bouslog of NASA Johnson Space Center - Exceptional leadership and technical contributions to NASA's aerothermodynamics and thermal protection system communities, leading to success of the Space Shuttle, Orion and advanced TPS development efforts.
Dr. Tushar K. Ghosh of CACI, Inc. - Critical spacecraft dynamics support to the U.S. human spaceflight program for over 30 years.
Dr. Louis Ghosn of NASA Glenn Research Center - Exceptional knowledge and expertise in the fields of structural and fracture mechanics, contributing to the success of numerous NASA missions.
William A. Johns of Lockheed Martin - Extraordinary excellence and innovation in space exploration mission success.
William D. Manha of Jacobs - Exemplary life-long career as a pressure system safety expert, enhancing the ability to perform exploration and science activities in space.
Federico Merheb of The Boeing Company - Outstanding technical leadership in design, testing and troubleshooting of purge, vent, and hazardous gas (PV&HG) detections systems, influencing numerous past, present, and future space vehicles including SSP Orbiter, SLS Core Stage, SLS Exploration Upper Stage, and Boeing's Phantom Express.
Gary F. Stewart of Collins Aerospace - Exceptional dedication, hard work, and technical excellence in testing and verification of new designs of complex flight hardware supporting NASA and Navy space programs.
Brian Sutter of Lockheed Martin - Outstanding technical expertise in space orbital mechanics and leadership of the design, development and implementation for NASA's planetary missions.
Don R. Wilbanks of Jacobs - Superior performance in the execution of structural testing supporting the Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz, Space Shuttle, ISS, and Orion Programs.
2019 Team Stellar Award Winners
Seven awards were presented in the 2019 Team Category.
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L to R: Dr. Shannon Walker (presenting), Tommy Barron (METTS SLS Core Stage Structural Test Article Instrumentation Installation Team of Aerie Aerospace), Matthew Jakubek (CST-100 Starliner Crew Module Reaction Control System (CM RCS) Thruster Development Team of Aerojet Rocketdyne), Michael Bradley (Aerojet Rocketdyne AR22 10X10 Test Team), Unidentified team member, Mark Hancock (AR-22 Engine Integrated Test Team of NASA Stennis Space Center), Stuart Spath (Lockheed Martin InSight Launch & Landing Team), Jeffrey Coots (Boeing SLS Engine Section Test Article Team), Brian Richard (Lockheed Martin Orion European Service Module Integration & Delivery Team), Mark Vande Hei (presenting) (RNASA photo, 2019)
Boeing SLS Engine Section Test Article Team - Outstanding team accomplishment in successfully testing the first major structural qualification article for the Space Launch System, proving structural confidence in the design of the engine section of the world's most powerful rocket.
Lockheed Martin InSight Launch & Landing Team - Outstanding accomplishment in the successful design, development, launch and landing of InSight on Mars, marking Lockheed Martin's fourth Mars mission landing with NASA – an accomplishment no other company or nation has achieved.
Aerojet Rocketdyne AR22 10X10 Test Team - Exceptional performance throughout the AR22 test program sequence of ten tests in ten days at NASA's Stennis Space Center.
AR-22 Engine Integrated Test Team of NASA Stennis Space Center - Outstanding teamwork in safely and successfully conducting the AR-22 test project, which included an unprecedented 10 hot-fires in under 240 hours.
CST-100 Starliner Crew Module Reaction Control System (CM RCS) Thruster Development Team of Aerojet Rocketdyne - Successful development, qualification, and delivery of the CST-100 Starliner CM RCS monopropellant thrusters.
METTS SLS Core Stage Structural Test Article Instrumentation Installation Team of Aerie Aerospace - Exceptional dedication and craftsmanship for the successful instrumentation installation on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) core stage structural test articles.
Lockheed Martin Orion European Service Module Integration & Delivery Team - Successful delivery and integration of the European Service Module (ESM) for Orion's Exploration Mission-1 flight test to the far side of the Moon and back.
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