National Reconnaissance Office Release #4-23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2023

Office of Public Affairs 

Contact: 703-808-1198

NRO honors three new Pioneers of National Reconnaissance

and achieves program milestone with 100th inductee

CHANTILLY, Va. – The National Reconnaissance Office honored the late Betty L. 

Johnson, Jeffrey D. Grant, and Dr. Charles V. Spalletta as the 2022 Pioneers of National 

Reconnaissance in a ceremony at NRO headquarters Wednesday, June 21. Recognized as 

the NRO’s highest honor, Pioneers are selected for their significant, lasting contributions 

to national reconnaissance that inspired future innovations. 

“These awards recognize that, for all the incredible accomplishments of these individuals 

and of NRO, they are the result of collaborations – of teams and of partnerships that go 

beyond one person or one organization,” said Principal Deputy Director of National 

Intelligence Stacey Dixon, who delivered the ceremony’s keynote address. “Partnerships, 

collaboration, teamwork, and integration – they are all incredibly important to our shared 

success.”

NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese presented Pioneer medallions and citations that will also 

be displayed in NRO’s Pioneer Hall. With today’s ceremony, 102 Pioneers have received 

this distinction.

“The Pioneers we recognize today were trailblazers and visionaries whose innovative

work changed the direction and scope of national reconnaissance,” Dr. Scolese said. “We 

thank them for their boundary-pushing efforts to develop new and better technology that

has helped make our nation safer and more secure.”

Johnson designed and developed the first computer software systems and integrated data 

architecture for mission planning, simulations, operational targeting, and exploitation 

management. Her contribution dramatically improved operational efficiency and

increased the overall satisfaction of intelligence requirements. The Pioneer Selection 

Board specifically chose Johnson as the 100th Pioneer to be recognized for contributions 

to the NRO; 2023 also marks the centennial of her birth. Johnson died in 2000, and her 

niece accepted the honor on her behalf. 

Grant laid the foundation for a new generation of NRO satellites by making significant 

technical improvements to the overhead electro-optical constellation. Capabilities he 

developed have proven critical to warfighters and analysts who depend on NRO imagery. 
Dr. Spalletta applied cutting-edge mathematical techniques and technologies to enable 

some of the nation's most advanced and challenging reconnaissance missions ever 

attempted.

Learn more about the NRO Pioneers of National Reconnaissance at NRO.gov.

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The NRO develops, acquires, launches, and operates the world’s best intelligence, 

surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites to secure and expand America’s advantage in 

space. We are building a diversified and resilient architecture of spacecraft and ground 

systems designed to meet the challenges of a changing space environment by accelerating 

innovation and leveraging strategic partnerships, backed by a diverse and highly skilled 

workforce. At NRO, we see it, hear it, and sense it so our nation’s warfighters and 

policymakers have decision advantage amid increasing global competition. 

Learn more at NRO.gov.