NASA Glenn Employees Awarded for Exceptional Performance

CLEVELAND — NASA’s Glenn Research Center Deputy Director, Ramon “Ray” Lugo III recently recognized the outstanding achievements of over 50 Glenn employees at the annual Center Awards Ceremony. Awards were presented to teams and individuals for exceptional work in science, technology, engineering, craftsmanship and administrative service.

2009 CENTER AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Abe Silverstein Medal Robert S. Okojie, Strongsville, received this medal for exemplary research and development efforts to create new sensing and micro-electro-mechanical systems for use in harsh environment aerospace and industrial applications.

Glenn’s Craftsmanship Award Members of the Launch Abort System Team received the Manufacturing Technologies Award for the successful fabrication, assembly and delivery of the Ares I-X launch abort system hardware, meeting the stringent schedule and technical requirements to support the first launch test for Ares I-X project.

The team includes: Philip R. Bastian, Sheffield Lake; Ralph P. Fekete, Huntsburg; Daniel I. Graf, Brunswick; Robert E. Kohler, Avon Lake; Jesus M. Lopez, Vermillion; Tonya L. Merriweather, South Euclid; David A. Pulice, Olmsted Falls; Patrick Spanos, Sheffield Village; and Jean C. Wells, Grafton.

Members of Glenn’s Interface Team received the Assembly and Build-up Technologies Award for the successful machining and inspection of interfaces for the Ares I-X Project.

The team includes: Philip R. Bastian, Sheffield Lake; John Brodkowski, Brunswick; Daniel W. Buttler, Wellington; Brian J. Edmonds, North Ridgeville; Timothy J. Heineke, Cleveland; Joseph F. Kerka, Medina; Steven M. Miller, Rocky River; Henry L. Scott, Richmond Heights; Charles K. Smalley, Grafton; Patrick Spanos, Sheffield Village; and Kenneth Guinta, Medina, an employee of Alphaport, Inc.

Distinguished Publication Award Glenn researchers received this award for their paper, “Inlet Mode Transition Screening Test for a Turbine-Based Combined-Cycle Propulsion System.” This paper advances the understanding of a ram/scramjet flow path for a turbine-based combined-cycle propulsion system.

The team includes: John “Dave” Saunders, North Olmsted; John W. Slater, Westlake; Vance F. Dippold, III, Lakewood; Jinho Lee, Broadview Heights; and Bobby W. Sanders, Westlake and Lois J. Weir, Akron, employees of TechLand Research Inc.

Diversity Leadership Award Eric B. Clark, Cleveland Heights, received this award for active commitment to diversity values and his positive impact on the Glenn recruitment program and the Northeast Ohio community.

Lancert E. Foster, East Cleveland, received this award for outstanding commitment to the promotion and practice of the principles of diversity and inclusion, both within Glenn and with the external community.

Support Assistant/Clerical Award The following employees won this award for exemplary service and professionalism in providing stellar administrative support.

The employees are:

Betsy E. DeLacruz, North Ridgeville, for being everyone’s “right hand,” you are truly the best Administrative Support Assistant to ever grace NASA Glenn.

Dennie Gonia, Columbia Station, for excellent administrative support to the NASA Safety Center.

Dora I. Matesic, Amherst, for excellent administrative support to the PACE Source Evaluation Board and the renovation, reorganization and remodeling of the Research Analysis Center.

Jacquelyn M. Rubeck, Amherst, for outstanding contributions to management and continuous process improvement of the Mechanical and Fluid Systems Division.

Rhonda S. Billick, Parma, an employee of SGT, Inc., for being flexible, patient and always willing to stop to provide assistance.

Lisa Lapka, North Royalton, an employee of SGT, Inc., for exceptional clerical contributions and a strong commitment to teamwork.

Carolyne Massas, Rocky River, an employee of SGT, Inc., for excellent interpersonal skills, enthusiasm and a true team player.

Patricia Webb, North Royalton, an employee of SGT, Inc., for a winning, can-do attitude and never refusing to perform any task requested.

Orma Willard, an employee of SGT, Inc., for her commitment, reliability and trustworthiness.

Steven V. Szabo Engineering Excellence Award Researchers received this award for outstanding contributions and engineering excellence in the development of the Vertical Motion Simulator for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The team includes Thomas A. Acquaviva, Middleburg Heights; Bryan Fraser, Parma Heights; Charles A. Herrmann, Cleveland; John S. Kolacz, Chardon; Stephen D. Manning and Ulrich Wiedenmannot, LaGrange; and Frank D. Quinn Jr., Fairview Park.

Procurement Team of the Year Award Members of the Plum Brook Reactor Facility Decontamination and Decommissioning Team received the award for their outstanding market research and for the procurement of the center’s largest disabled veteran owned small business set aside contract.

The team includes: Robert O. Bayda, Olmsted Township; Helen M. Ceh, Grafton; Robert R. Corban, Medina; Jerald J. Kennemuth, Willoughby; Robert F. Lallier, Lakewood; Robert P. Lisy, Solon; Melissa A. Merrill, Wellington; Keith M. Peecook, Vermilion; Lawrence J. Schroeder, North Ridgeville; and Jose M. Vega, Strongsville.

Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year Award Seth Giles, Olmsted Township, received this award for providing outstanding support to the NASA Safety Center; Giles is an employee of Efficient Enterprise Engineering Inc.

Small Business Subcontractor of the Year Award Vinod K. Nagpal, Strongsville, received this award for providing outstanding support to GRC’s Safety and Mission Assurance Support Service Contract. Nagpal is an employee of N & R Engineering and Management Services Inc.

Technical Person of the Year Award Michael A. Meador, Strongsville, received this award for being highly proactive in his efforts to involve historically black colleges and universities and small disadvantaged businesses in materials research at Glenn.