NASA Langley Researchers Earn Distinguished Service Awards

Two civil servants and a recent retiree from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, have received Distinguished Service Medals from NASA.

The medals are NASA’s highest form of recognition, awarded to government employees who, by distinguished service, ability, or vision, have contributed to the agency’s advancement of United States interests.

Bruce Anderson received a medal for sustained distinguished service, leadership and technical excellence within the research aviation community, and for advancing understanding in Earth science and aeronautics. Anderson has been at NASA for 24 years and serves as project scientist for the Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS) experiment.

Thomas Brooks received a medal for sustained outstanding contributions to the science of the reduction of aerodynamic noise in the community. Brooks has been at NASA Langley for 40 years, primarily working in the discipline of aeroacoustics, or the study of noise generation by airflow.

Lelia Vann received a medal for a career of extraordinary contributions, distinguished service, and outstanding leadership in support of the nation’s science program and NASA’s missions. Vann was a NASA employee for more than 32 years and made significant contributions in the management of science and technology at numerous NASA centers.

In addition, James Coakley, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Oregon State University who conducts research at NASA Langley, received a Distinguished Public Service Medal, which is NASA’s highest form of recognition awarded to non-government individuals whose distinguished service, ability or vision has contributed to NASA’s advancement of the United States’ interests.

Coakley’s medal was for distinguished, visionary service in atmospheric sciences research. He is recognized worldwide for his research, which has advanced the understanding of the role of aerosols, clouds and radiation in Earth’s climate system.

Medal recipients were honored in a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

William Borucki, the principal scientific investigator for Kepler, a NASA mission to survey a portion of our region of the Milky Way to discover Earth-size planets in or near the habitable zone, was the guest speaker. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot handed out the awards.

“These recipients have dedicated a significant portion of their careers to making sure our nation reaches the high goals that NASA is called upon to make reality,” Bolden said. “They represent a commitment to a specific area of expertise that has advanced our missions and made it possible to do the impossible.”