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-