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.
The medal was inherited by NASA from its predecessor organization, the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics and featured the NACA emblem. The original NASA version featured the NASA seal.
Notable recipients
- Buzz Aldrin
- Robert O. Aller
- Aseel Anabtawi
- Neil Armstrong
- Brandon T. Bailey
- Charles Bolden
- Frank Borman 1965
- John R. Casani
- Lin Chambers
- Kevin Chilton
- Eileen Collins
- Michael Collins
- Lana Couch
- Nagin Cox
- William H. Dana
- Jean Dickey
- John H. Disher
- Einar Enevoldson
- Christer Fuglesang
- Fitzhugh L. Fulton
- Alfred Gessow
- Isaac T. Gillam
- Gus Grissom
- John M. Grunsfeld
- Umberto Guidoni
- Joseph Gutheinz
- Chris Hadfield
- Karl Heimburg
- Joan E. Higginbotham
- David M. Jones
- Mark Kelly
- Don Leslie Lind
- James A. Lovell
- Paul D. Lowman
- John A. Manke
- William S. McArthur
- Pamela Matson
- Saverio "Sonny" Morea
- James B. Odom
- Robert J. Parks
- Julie Payette
- Arthur Rudolph
- Tecwyn Roberts
- Walter M. Schirra
- David Scott
- Sigurd A. Sjoberg
- Deke Slayton
- Andrew J. Stofan
- Epaminondas Stassinopoulos
- Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
- Richard H. Truly
- Peggy Whitson
- David Williamson Jr.
- John W. Young