August 2, 2007

Katherine K. Martin
Media Relations Office
216-433-2406
katherine.martin@grc.nasa.gov

RELEASE: 07-025

GLENN RECOGNIZES TOP EMPLOYEES AT HONOR AWARDS CEREMONY

Cleveland--Employees at NASA's Glenn Research Center were recently

honored by receiving the agency's most prestigious medals and awards.
Presenting this year's awards was Christyl Johnson, Assistant
Associate Administrator in the Office of the Administrator at NASA
Headquarters. Johnson, whose responsibilities include assisting in
the oversight of the agency's technical mission areas and field
center operations, also spoke at the ceremony.

The following people were recognized for their outstanding

contributions to the work of NASA and Glenn in achieving excellence
in science, engineering and administrative service:

Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive in the Senior

Executive Service
Vernon W. Wessel, Cuyahoga Falls, for sustained extraordinary
accomplishment in management of programs of the United States
Government and for leadership exemplifying the highest standards of
service to the public, reflecting credit on the career civil service.

Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive in the Senior

Executive Service
Olga D. Gonzalez-Sanabria, Strongsville, for sustained superior
accomplishment in management of programs of the United States
Government and for noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency
in the public service.

Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Senior Professional

Isaiah M. Blankson, Solon, for sustained superior accomplishment in
the conduct of programs of the United States Government and for
noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency in the public
service.

Outstanding Leadership Medal

Bruce Banks, Olmsted Falls, for outstanding leadership and exemplary
service to NASA and its customers.
Mary C. Lester, Westlake, for outstanding leadership in all areas of
the Logistics and Technical Information Division activities and in
support of the Center's focus on safety.

Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal

Pappu L. Murthy, North Olmsted, for outstanding contributions toward
development of novel structural analysis tools for components using
advanced composite materials.

Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal

Myrtle L. Collins, North Ridgeville, for outstanding administrative
support of the Office of the Director and NASA Glenn Research Center.
Linda Srneck, Bay Village, for dedication and excellence in providing
secretarial support to the engineers and support personnel.

Exceptional Achievement Medal

Vincent Bilardo, Bay Village, for achievements in the formulation and
advocacy of NASA Government-led design and development of the Ares I
Upper Stage to enable the Ares I ascent development flight test.
Nola L. Bland, Oberlin, for exceptional performance in the
implementation of the new Agency Learning Management System, SATERN,
at Glenn and contribution to the Agency implementation team.
Benjamin B. Choi, Broadview Heights, for outstanding contributions in
pioneering research in self-levitated high-power-density motors for
the Nation's future aerospace missions.
Charles Lawrence, Shaker Heights, for developing and commercializing
an engine-airframe structural simulation code for steady state and
transient conditions that is being used by NASA, Boeing, General
Electric, Pratt & Whitney and others.
Quang-Viet Nguyen, Richmond Heights, for innovations in optical
diagnostics significantly contributing to fundamental/applied
combustion research that advances NASA's aerospace technology
leadership.
Sai V. Raj, Strongsville, for understanding life-limiting material
properties, developing advance performing materials and demonstrating
the viability of new engineering concepts for aerospace propulsion.
George C. Soulas, Avon, for extraordinary contributions to the
development and transfer to industry of next-generation ion
propulsion thruster technology.

Exceptional Service Medal

Bernadette M. Baldwin, Brunswick, for exceptional leadership,
professionalism and dedication in providing legal services to Glenn.
Kevin P. Coleman, North Olmsted, for exceptional service in records,
forms and history program development and management.
Joyce A. Dever, Westlake, for exceptional service in providing
technical excellence and fostering effective collaborations vital to
mission success.
Gene Fujikawa, Sagamore Hills, for outstanding technical and
management leadership in digital communications for advancing space
missions.
Frank J. Greco, Burbank, for sustained leadership in advancing the
Agency's safety and mission assurance engineering discipline.
Michael A. Heryak, Cleveland, for exceptional contributions and
success in developing customer-focused networking and communications
services for NASA.
Dale A. Hopkins, Medina, for exemplary leadership in providing
breakthrough technologies for jet engine fan cases/containment
systems and engine blade-out failure event simulation.
Avis V. Hudson, Cleveland, for knowledge, dedication and outstanding
leadership skills that have significantly contributed to Glenn's
visibility in local, regional and national outreach efforts.
James E. Hunter, North Olmsted, for significant and sustained impact
to many important NASA programs.
Felix A. Miranda, Olmsted Falls, for outstanding technical and
managerial leadership in Antenna and Microwave Technologies for Space
Communication.
Elizabeth J. Opila, Lakewood, for outstanding accomplishments in the
area of high-temperature degradation and durability of advanced
ceramic material and its successful impact on aeronautics and space
efforts.
Timothy C. Pierce, Richmond Heights, for dedicated service, technical
skills and judgment in providing excellent procurement services to
NASA programs and Glenn.
David A. Sagerser, Independence, for significant and sustained
performance within NASA's Advanced Aircraft Program and exceptional
ingenuity in building successful collaborative relationships with the
Department of Defense.
Kathleen E. Schubert, Medina, for exceptional abilities and
accomplishments in integrating flight project activities at Glenn.
Tony D. Shook, North Royalton, for sustained engineering excellence
and exceptional contributions to Glenn's in-house turbine engine
noise-reduction projects.
David L. Urban, Shaker Heights, for outstanding technical and
managerial leadership that has enabled significant enhancements to
combustion science and fire safety in microgravity environments.
Lynne M. Wiersma, Westlake, for many years of exceptional support to
the Center's program and project organizations.
Mary V. Zeller, Rocky River, for outstanding technical and outreach
excellence as a successful manager and steward for the Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Medal

Jih-Fen Lei, Westlake, for exemplary commitment to and support of
Glenn's equal opportunity programs and goals through mentoring,
coaching and advocacy.
Frank Robinson, Strongsville, for exemplary commitment to and support
of Glenn's equal opportunity programs and goals.

Senior Executive Service Appointments

Thomas Hartline, Olmsted Falls, to the position of Director, Safety
and Mission Assurance, effective May 13, 2007.
William R. Humphries, Avon, to the position of Deputy Director of
Programs and Projects, effective October 1, 2006.
Robert W. Moorehead, for reinstatement to the position of Director,
Space Flight Systems, effective March 4, 2007.
George R. Schmidt, Westlake, to the position of Deputy Director,
Research and Technology Directorate, effective March 18, 2007.
David L. Stringer, Berea, to the position of Plum Brook Station
Manager, effective February 18, 2007.

Senior Scientific and Professional Corps Appointment

Bruce M. Steinetz, Westlake, to the position of Senior Research
Aerospace Engineer, effective August 6, 2006.

Distinguished Publication Award

Kelly S. Carney, Grafton, in recognition of his role in developing a
new model for predicting high velocity ice impact that benefits the
flight safety of the space shuttle and commercial aviation, described
in the publication entitled, "A Phenomenological High Strain Rate
Model with Failure for Ice."

Diversity Leadership Award

Joseph Connolly, Ohio City, Avis Hudson, Cleveland, James B. Jackson,
Fairview Park, Jeremy John, Strongsville, Mark Manthey, Hinckley,
Raquel Redhouse, Parma Heights, George Harpster, North Olmsted,
Denise Busch, Olmsted Township, members of The Native American
Advisory Council, in recognition of collective efforts to increase
the representation and increase the understanding of Native Americans
and their culture, by contributing significantly to the valuing and
affirming of diversity among the Center's workforce.

Fifty Year Service Awards

Robert C. Hendricks, North Olmsted
David M. Herb, retired, Elyria
Erwin V. Zaretsky

Forty-five Year Service Awards

Clifford H. Arth, North Olmsted
Ernest Bertone II, Broadview Heights
Ihor Kramarchuk, Brunswick
John J. Svoboda, Sharon Township
Roy C. Tew, Jr., North Olmsted

Forty Year Service Awards

Robert C. Anderson, Parma
Elmer C. Bartels, Huron
Leo A. Burkardt, Strongsville
Robert L. Cataldo, Rocky River
Christos C. Chamis, Westlake
Daniel D. Chrulski, retired, Elyria
John W. Gaff, retired, Blaine, WA
Marvin E. Goldstein, Elyria
Hugh R. Gray, North Olmsted
Albert L. Johns, Berea
Robert S. Mattingly, Chatham
Jeffrey H. Miles, Beachwood
Thomas C. Murray, Brunswick
Edward J. Pluta, retired, Medina
Stephen M. Riddlebaugh, Fairview Park
John E. Rohde, retired, Brunswick
David A. Sagerser, Independence
Lawrence J. Schroeder, Jr., North Ridgeville
Ronald L. Shaw, retired, Spencer
Carl L. Silski, North Ridgeville
Wendell White, Lorain
Richard P. Woodward, Parma

Group Achievement Awards

Six members of the Chief Information Office Collaborative Tools Team,
for contributions in increasing productivity, improving product
quality and saving costs across the Agency through consulting and
adoption support of collaboration tools.

Twenty-one members of the Great Lakes Environmental Science Mission

Team, for significant NASA/NOAA team performance to develop an
advanced mobile sensor platform for first-of-a-kind hyperspectral
imaging of environmental phenomena in the Great Lakes.
Twenty-two members of the Low Power SOICMOS Transceiver Team, for the
development of Low Power, Silicon-On-Insulator Complementary Metal
Oxide Semiconductor Transceiver Technology in support of NASA
planetary robotic missions.

Thirty-five members of the NASA Glenn Surface Mobility Team, for

innovative technical and programmatic solutions and exceptional
partnering approaches for the development of the next generation of
planetary exploration mobility systems.

Thirty-three members of the NEXT Thruster Development Team, for the

highly successful design, fabrication and testing of NEXT ion
propulsion thruster technology.

Forty-eight members of the Service Module Collaborative Concept Team,

for successfully demonstrating independent, Government-led design
activities for the Crew Exploration Vehicle Service Module through an
inter-center collaborative design team.

-end-