NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Appearance
NASA Exceptional Service Medal | |
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![]() NASA Exceptional Service Medal | |
Type | Medal |
Country | United States |
Established | July 29, 1959 |
![]() NASA Exceptional Service Ribbon | |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal |
Next (lower) | Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal Equal Employment Opportunity Medal |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Wally_Schirra_Collection_Photo.jpg/220px-Wally_Schirra_Collection_Photo.jpg)
The NASA Exceptional Service Medal is an award granted to U.S. government employees for significant sustained performance characterized by unusual initiative or creative ability that clearly demonstrates substantial improvement in engineering, aeronautics, space flight, administration, support, or space-related endeavors which contribute to NASA programs.
The medal was inherited by NASA from its predecessor organization, the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) and featured the NACA emblem. The original NASA version featured the NASA seal.
Notable recipients
- Buzz Aldrin
- Charles F. Bolden, Jr. (twice)
- Roger B. Chaffee (posthumously)
- Kevin Chilton
- Michael Collins (1966)
- Paul D. Lowman
- William H. Dana
- John H. Disher (twice, last in 1980)
- Einar Enevoldson (twice: 1974 and 1980)
- James E. Fesmire (1999)
- Fitzhugh L. Fulton (twice)
- Gus Grissom
- John M. Grunsfeld (three awards)
- Umberto Guidoni (2002)
- Joseph Gutheinz (2000)
- Chris Hadfield
- Daniel H. Herman (1974)
- Joan E. Higginbotham
- David M. Jones
- Mark Kelly
- Don Leslie Lind (1974)
- James A. Lovell (with star)
- William S. McArthur
- Pamela Matson
- J.D. Polk
- Arthur Rudolph
- Tecwyn Roberts (1969)
- Walter M. Schirra (1964 and 1968)
- David Scott (1966)
- Richard H. Truly (two awards)
- Richard R. Fisher (1998 and 2005)
- Peggy Whitson
- John W. Young (1965 and 1966)
- Christer Fuglesang (2010)
- Gloria A. Murphy (2012)
- Lesley C. Fletcher (2012)
- Robert J. Parks (1967)
- Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
- Jeffery M. Hanley (2015)
- Bruce r. Hilty (2015)