NASA Exceptional Service Medal

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.

NASA Exceptional Service Medal
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Type	Medal
Country	United States
Presented by	the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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

Certificate that accompanies the medal, given to Wally Schirra in 1964.

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 (1969)^[1]
• Robert O. Aller (twice)^[2]
• Neil Armstrong (1966)^[3]
• Brandon T. Bailey (2019)^[4]
• Charles Bolden (thrice)^[5]
• John R. Casani (1965)^[6]
• Lin Chambers (2009)^[7]
• Kevin Chilton^[8]
• Eileen Collins (1998) ^[9]
• Michael Collins (1966)^[10]
• Lana Couch (1986)^[11]
• Nagin Cox^[12]
• William H. Dana^[13]
• Jean Dickey (1998)^[14]
• John H. Disher (twice, last in 1980)^[15]
• Einar Enevoldson (1974 and 1980)^[16]
• Christer Fuglesang (2010)^[17]
• Fitzhugh L. Fulton (1977 and 1983)^[18]
• Alfred Gessow (1974)^[19]
• Gus Grissom^[20]
• John M. Grunsfeld (1997, 1998, and 2000)^[21]
• Umberto Guidoni (2002)^[22]
• Joseph Gutheinz (2000)^[23]
• Chris Hadfield (2002)^[24]
• Karl Heimburg (1969)^[25]
• Joan E. Higginbotham^[26]
• David M. Jones^[27]
• Mark Kelly^[28]
• Don Leslie Lind (1974)^[29]
• James A. Lovell (with star)^[30][31]
• Paul D. Lowman^[32]
• William S. McArthur^[33]
• Pamela Matson^[34]
• Saverio "Sonny" Morea (twice)^[35]
• James B. Odom (1973)^[36]
• Robert J. Parks (1967)^[37]
• Julie Payette (2010)^[38]
• Arthur Rudolph^[39]
• Tecwyn Roberts (1969)^[40]
• Walter M. Schirra (1964 and 1968)^[41]
• David Scott (1966)^[3]
• Sigurd A. Sjoberg (1969)^[42]
• Deke Slayton^[43]
• Andrew J. Stofan (1975)^[44]
• Epaminondas Stassinopoulos (1992)^[45]
• Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper^[46]
• Richard H. Truly (two awards)^[47]
• Peggy Whitson (1993, 2003, 2006, and 2008)^[48]
• John W. Young (1965 and 1966)^[10]
• Aseel Anabtawi (2007).^[49]
• Frank Borman 1965 ^[50]

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States government
• NASA Distinguished Service Medal

References

1. "Buzz Aldrin: Highlights & Achievements" (PDF). buzzaldrin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
2. "Robert O. Aller, 76". Washington Post. June 6, 2006. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
3. "Serious Problem in Space". The Times Recorder. Zanesville, Ohio. UPI. March 27, 1966. p. 8. Retrieved March 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "TMC Technologies of West Virginia Chief Technology Officer Brandon Bailey awarded NASA Exceptional Service Medal for cybersecurity services – TMC Technologies". 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
5. "Charles F. Bolden". United States Naval Academy. U.S. Navy. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
6. "Deputy Assistant Laboratory Director of Flight Projects Appointed". JPL. NASA. February 1, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
7. "NASA - NASA Honor Award Winners". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
8. "Kevin P. Chilton (General, USAF)" (PDF). NASA. March 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
9. "Historical Recipient List" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
10. "Whoosh to Altitude Record 'Tremendous Thrill' to Astros". Independent. Long Beach, California. UPI. August 2, 1966. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Lana M. Couch". Distinguished Engineering Alumna Award. Purdue University College of Engineering. 1994. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
12. "Nagin Cox". solarsystem.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
13. "William H. Dana". NASA. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
14. Zlotnicki, Victor; Owen, Susan (November 26, 2018). "Jean O'Brien Dickey (1945–2018)". Eos. American Geophysical Union. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
15. "J.H. Disher, Retired NASA Official, Dies". The Washington Post. August 30, 1988. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
16. "Einar K. Enevoldson". NASA. 17 June 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
17. Christer Fuglesang får medalj av NASA Archived August 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Swedish National Space Board, June 23, 2010
18. "Fulton, Fitzhugh "Fitz"". National Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
19. "SP-4012 NASA Historical Data Book: Volume IV, NASA Resources 1969-1978". NASA. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
20. "Virgil I. Grissom (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF)" (PDF). NASA. December 1997. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
21. "Dr. John Grunsfeld". George W. Bush White House Archives. National Archives. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
22. "Onorificienze e riconoscimenti". Umberto Guidoni. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
23. "Joseph Gutheinz, Jr.: "Finding the Missing Moon Rocks"". GSFC. NASA. 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
24. "Chris A. Hadfield (Colonel, CAF, RET.)" (PDF). NASA. June 2004. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
25. "Karl L. Heimburg" (PDF). NASA. March 27, 1972. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
26. "Joan E. Higginbotham" (PDF). NASA. November 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
27. "Major General David M. Jones". U.S. Air Force. February 15, 1972. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
28. "Mark E. Kelly (Captain, USN)" (PDF). NASA. July 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
29. "Don (not Donald) Leslie Lind (Ph.D.)" (PDF). NASA. January 1987. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
30. "4 Gemini Astronauts Agree Man Can Survive in Space". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. December 31, 1965. p. 3-B – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Johnson Sees Greater U.S. Success in Space". The Evening Times. Sayre, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. November 23, 1966. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "Dr. Paul Lowman". GSFC. NASA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
33. "William Surles "Bill" McArthur, Jr" (PDF). NASA. September 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
34. "Division Awards". Earth Science at Ames. NASA. 31 March 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
35. "Saverio "Sonny" F. Morea". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
36. "Biographical Sketch" (PDF). NASA. December 1986. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
37. "Robert J. Parks Collection, 1983-1987". ArchiveGrid: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
38. Scotti, Monique (July 13, 2017). "Julie Payette: Meet Canada's next governor general". Global News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
39. "Nasa Refuses to Strip War Criminal of the Dsm Award It Gave Him for His Contributions to Rocket Prog". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. February 5, 1985. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
40. Mitchell, Christina (November 15, 2019). "NASA Goddard Honors an Apollo-era Pioneer, His Legacy". NASA. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
41. "4 Gemini Astronauts Agree Man Can Survive in Space". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. December 31, 1965. p. 3–B – via Newspapers.com.
42. Gawdlak, Ihor; Fedor, Helen (1994). NASA Historical Data Book: NASA Resources 1969-1978. Vol. IV. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. pp. 405, 408. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
43. "Deke Slayton (Mr.)" (PDF). NASA. June 1993. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
44. "Historical Biography - Andrew J. Stofan". NASA. November 12, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
45. "All Historical Awards" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
46. "Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (Captain, USN)" (PDF). NASA. July 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
47. "NASA Administrator, May 14, 1989-March 31, 1992". NASA. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
48. "Peggy A. Whitson" (PDF). NASA. June 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
49. "Aseel Anabtawi". Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
50. "NASA Awards Recipient List" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

External links

• NASA awards
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration Honor Awards (1969-1978)