2025 PRESS/PHOTO INFORMATION
Press Release
Pamela Melroy, NASA Deputy Administrator, to receive the 2025 National Space Trophy
Rotary National Award for Space Achievement
January 14, 2025
Media Contact: Lindsey Cousins, Lindseyrc99@gmail.com
Rodolfo González, president of the RNASA Foundation, said, "The RNASA Foundation is thrilled to host Ms. Melroy as the guest of honor at the 2025 Space Awards Gala. The annual RNASA Gala is organized to recognize outstanding achievements in our field, and we look forward to celebrating Ms. Melroy's contributions to space discovery, exploration and advancement."
"Receiving the National Space Trophy is an extraordinary honor, and I share it with the countless individuals who have worked tirelessly to push the boundaries of human exploration," said Melroy. "Space is where the impossible becomes possible - it's where we dare to dream, innovate, and collaborate for the benefit of all humanity. This award is a celebration of what we've achieved and a call to keep reaching for the stars."
Melroy was nominated for the award by Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche and former Johnson Space Center Director Michael Coats. Wyche commented on Melroy's pioneering achievements, saying "she is a trailblazer who has inspired future generations to pursue careers in STEM. Her success is a testament to the pursuit of excellence opening the doors to endless possibilities." Coats wrote, "Colonel Pamela Ann Melroy has had a long and distinguished career in aviation and space. She is a role model we all want for our young people."
Melroy was sworn in as NASA's 15th Deputy Administrator on June 21, 2021 after receiving unanimous consent in the Senate. Working in sync with NASA's administrator, Melroy is responsible for communicating the agency's vision to the Office of the President, Congress, and appropriate government agencies and organizations. During her tenure, she has created policies that maximize NASA's resources and strengthen the constantly evolving global aerospace environment. She has played an integral role in the development of NASA 2040, an initiative focused on investing in the infrastructure, technology and talent needed to maintain NASA's status as the premiere space exploration institution for decades to come.
Melroy was commissioned by the Air Force ROTC program in 1983. She served as a co-pilot, aircraft commander, and instructor pilot flying the KC-10 at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
She is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Just Cause with over 200 hours of combat and combat support hours. She went on to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1991 where she served as a test pilot on the C-17 Combined Test Force. Melroy has logged over 6,000 hours of flight time in more than 50 aircraft.
Melroy was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1994 and reported to Johnson Space Center in March 1995. She supported astronaut launch and landing duties, advanced projects in the Astronaut Office, and performed CAPCOM duties in mission control. After the Columbia tragedy in 2003, Melroy served as Deputy Project Manager for the Survival Investigation Team.
As one of only two women to command a shuttle, Melroy has made three trips to space, totaling over 38 days. She piloted STS-92 in 2000, STS-112 in 2002 and was mission commander on STS-120 aboard Discovery in 2007. Each assembly mission to the ISS furthered the agency's 23-year research history in low Earth orbit.
Melroy shifted to the private sector in 2009 when she joined Lockheed Martin as Deputy Program Manager of Orion Space Exploration Initiatives. There, she oversaw the Orion spacecraft's budget and engineering team. She went on to serve in leadership roles as the FAA, DARPA, Nova Systems Pty, Australia, and the National Space Council's User Advisory Group.
Melroy is the recipient of numerous honors including the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, and the AIAA Public Service Medal. She was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in May 2020 and is an Associate Fellow for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Melroy holds a bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy from Wellesley College and a master's degree in Earth and planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The RNASA Foundation invites members of the public and the aerospace community to attend the black-tie event on April 25, 2025, at the Houston Hyatt Regency, where Melroy will be presented with the National Space Trophy during the 37th 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.
Read the press release as a Word document.