2025 Stellar Awards Winners
The 2025 RNASA Stellar Award winners in each of four categories were announced at the banquet on April 25, 2025 at the Houston Hyatt Regency hotel.
The 125 nominations were evaluated by Michael Coats, Eileen Collins, Sandra Magnus, Michael Hawes, and Dr. Christopher Scolese.
A list of all the Stellar Awards nominees was printed in the 2025 program book.
The 2025 Stellar Awards were presented by Astronauts Randolph "Komrade" Bresnik and Kate Rubins.
2025 Early Career Stellar Award Winners
Six awards were presented in the 2025 Early Career Category.
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L to R: Randy Bresnik (presenting), Alexis Adrian, Abigail Coleman, Rachel Gleichmann, Shelby Rode, Ronald Lee Jr., Kate Rubins (presenting). Not pictured: Jesse Cole
(RNASA photo, 2025)
Alexis Adrian of Amentum - For excellent technical and leadership skills in support of the VIPER lunar rover.
Capt. Jesse J. Cole of United States Space Force - For outstanding leadership overseeing production and sustainment of a four-satellite Space Domain Awareness constellation.
Abigail B. Coleman of Aerodyne Industries - For exceptional software engineering contributions to the Mission Systems contract at JSC.
Rachel K. Gleichmann of United States Space Force - For outstanding contributions supporting seven space flight experiments that significantly enhanced the Space Force's ability to perform future missions.
Ronald G. Lee, Jr. of Booz Allen Hamilton - For successful first-ever development of a comprehensive simulation to predict dust contamination to spacecraft, crucial to the health and safety of astronauts.
Shelby Rode of Amentum - For outstanding leadership in a challenging, ever-evolving thermal vacuum chamber test environment.
2025 Middle Career Stellar Award Winners
Nine awards were presented in the 2025 Middle Career Category.
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L to R: Kate Rubins (presenting), Lisa Milam, Anthony Paul Shoemaker, Joseph Schuh, Andrew Williams, Lee Echerd, Pam August, Christopher Brunner, Lucie Low, Randy Bresnik (presenting). Not pictured: Alejandro Garbino
(RNASA photo, 2025)
Pam A. August of NASA Johnson Space Center - For proactive leadership in multiple NASA spaceflight programs, including ISS, Moon-to-Mars, and Mars Sample Return.
Dr. Christopher W. Brunner of Northrop Grumman Corporation - For outstanding GN&C subject matter expertise in rendezvous and proximity operations for Northrop Grumman.
Lee Echerd of SpaceX - For sustained leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment to the safety and success of SpaceX NASA Commercial Crew Missions.
Dr. Alejandro Garbino of GeoControl Systems, Inc. - For exceptional leadership as an EVA Research Scientist and recognized subject matter expert within the NASA community on decompression sickness.
Dr. Lucie Low of Axiom Space - For exceptional scientific innovation, leadership, and global collaboration in advancing space-based research, redefining the possibilities of scientific exploration in microgravity.
Lisa A. Milam of Leidos - For exceptional dedication in mastering the confidence to excel in achieving multiple flight controller certifications.
Joseph M. Schuh of NASA Kennedy Space Center - For consistent demonstration of perseverance and determination in the course of making human spaceflight safe and successful.
Anthony Paul Shoemaker of MRI Technologies - For exceptional contributions revolutionizing NASA's digital ecosystem through groundbreaking cloud-native systems, enabling enhanced data access, operational agility, and robust mission security.
Dr. Andrew D. Williams of United States Space Force - For outstanding leadership and technical expertise directing the AFRL Space S&T portfolio as the AFRL Deputy Technology Executive Officer for Space.
2025 Late Career Stellar Award Winners
Eight awards were presented in the 2025 Late Career Category.
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L to R: Randy Bresnik (presenting), Andrew Ward, Quan Xiong, Billy Stover, Fadi Riman, Peggy Whitson, Mary Fleet, Kate Rubins (presenting). Not pictured: Steven Lipson, Kyson Nguyen
(RNASA photo, 2025)
Mary L. Fleet of Lockheed Martin - For exceptional technical leadership of the Artemis I mission team of Certified Principal Engineers (CPEs) and Subject Matter Expert (SMEs) supporting Orion's first flight to the Moon and back.
Dr. Steven J. Lipson of United States Space Force - For groundbreaking discoveries that propelled the development of innovative space technologies, ensuring the nation's domination in space.
Kyson Nguyen of Amentum - For superior radiation testing services in support of our Nation's Space Program.
Fadi Riman of Amentum - For lifelong dedication to making space travel safer, developing future aerospace talent, and driving achievements for our Nation's Space Program.
Billy R. Stover of NASA Kennedy Space Center - For exemplary service to NASA in effectively leading the Commercial Crew Program's Safety & Mission Assurance team for over a decade.
Andrew J. Ward of CACI International Inc. - For critical spacecraft flight software and simulation support to NASA Human Spaceflight for over 35 years.
Dr. Peggy Whitson of Axiom Space - For exceptional achievements as a standard bearer in human spaceflight as a NASA astronaut and continuing in the commercial sphere.
Dr. Quan Xiong of KBR - For exceptional dedication, innovative ideas, and technical excellence in support of the NASA Human Space Flight program for the International Space Station.
2025 Team Stellar Award Winners
Six awards were presented in the 2025 Team Category.
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L to R: Kate Rubins (presenting), Kyle Holcomb (Cygnus Integration and Test Team of Northrop Grumman), Luis Saucedo (Orion Heat Shield Investigation Team of NASA Johnson Space Center), Jack Fischer (Nova-C Operations Team of Intuitive Machines), Brian Pitman (Space-Based Weather Systems Team of THE United States Space Force), Paul Duffin (Space Launch Complex 40 Certification Team of NASA Kennedy Space Center), Michael See and Tho Nguyen (Orion Environmental Test Article Team of Lockheed Martin and NASA Johnson Space Center), Randy Bresnik (presenting).
(RNASA photo, 2025)
Cygnus Integration and Test Team of Northrop Grumman Corporation - For outstanding teamwork and continued excellence in support of Commercial Resupply to the International Space Station.
Nova-C Operations Team of Intuitive Machines - For successful operations of the IM-1 mission including transit to the moon, landing on the moon, and operating on the surface of the moon.
Orion Environmental Test Article Team of Lockheed Martin and NASA Johnson Space Center - For extraordinary effort transforming the Artemis I Orion Crew Module into an Environmental Test Article (ETA), completing critical Qualification testing at NASA's Armstrong Test Facility to validate safety and spacecraft performance for crewed Artemis missions and providing essential data to inform spacecraft reuse.
Orion Heat Shield Investigation Team of NASA Johnson Space Center - For exceptional technical acumen and leadership throughout the heatshield char loss investigation following the Artemis 1 mission.
Space-Based Weather Systems Team of United States Space Force - For outstanding leadership of a successful launch and post-launch system checkout of $525M next generation operational weather system and $10M tech demo to lay path to future architecture.
Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) Certification Team of NASA Kennedy Space Center - For significant contributions to the Commercial Crew Program's crewed launch capabilities with certification of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40).