The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, right, and Dr. Michael Freilich, Earth Science Director, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, pose for a photo after Dr. Freilich was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal at the Earth Science Town Hall at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine awards Dr. Michael Freilich, Earth Science Director, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal at the Earth Science Town Hall at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

After four decades of contribution to America's space program, George Hopson, manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project at Marshall Space Flight Center, accepted NASA's Distinguished Service Medal. Awarded to those who, by distinguished ability or courage, have made a personal contribution to the NASA mission, NASA's Distinguished Service Medal is the highest honor NASA confers. Hopson's contributions to America's space program include work on the country's first space station, Skylab; the world's first reusable space vehicle, the Space Shuttle; and the International Space Station. Hopson joined NASA's Marshall team as chief of the Fluid and Thermal Systems Branch in the Propulsion Division in 1962, and later served as chief of the Engineering Analysis Division of the Structures and Propulsion Laboratory. In 1979, he was named director of Marshall's Systems Dynamics Laboratory. In 1981, he was chosen to head the Center's Systems Analysis and Integration. Seven years later, in 1988, Hopson was appointed associate director for Space Transportation Systems and one year later became the manager of the Space Station Projects Office at Marshall. In 1994, Hopson was selected as deputy director for Space Systems in the Science and Engineering Directorate at Marshall where he supervised the Chief Engineering Offices of both marned and unmanned space systems. He was named manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project in 1997. In addition to the Distinguished Service Medal, Hopson has also been recognized with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and NASA's Exceptional Service Medal.

Joseph A. Walker was a Chief Research Pilot at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center during the mid-1960s. He joined the NACA in March 1945, and served as project pilot at the Edwards flight research facility on such pioneering research projects as the D-558-1, D-558-2, X-1, X-3, X-4, X-5, and the X-15. He also flew programs involving the F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, and the B-47. Walker made the first NASA X-15 flight on March 25, 1960. He flew the research aircraft 24 times and achieved its fastest speed and highest altitude. He attained a speed of 4,104 mph (Mach 5.92) during a flight on June 27, 1962, and reached an altitude of 354,300 feet on August 22, 1963 (his last X-15 flight). He was the first man to pilot the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) that was used to develop piloting and operational techniques for lunar landings. Walker was born February 20, 1921, in Washington, Pa. He lived there until graduating from Washington and Jefferson College in 1942, with a B.A. degree in Physics. During World War II he flew P-38 fighters for the Air Force, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Seven Oak Clusters. Walker was the recipient of many awards during his 21 years as a research pilot. These include the 1961 Robert J. Collier Trophy, 1961 Harmon International Trophy for Aviators, the 1961 Kincheloe Award and 1961 Octave Chanute Award. He received an honorary Doctor of Aeronautical Sciences degree from his alma mater in June of 1962. Walker was named Pilot of the Year in 1963 by the National Pilots Association. He was a charter member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and one of the first to be designated a Fellow. He was fatally injured on June 8, 1966, in a mid-air collision between an F-104 he was piloting and the XB-70.

George Edward Alcorn, a pioneering African American physicist and engineer, is credited with dozens of inventions over the course of a distinguished career in private industry and at NASA, for which he earned eight patents. Alcorn joined Goddard Space Flight Center in 1978 and held numerous leadership roles in both research and administration until his retirement in 2012. One of Alcorn’s signature accomplishments at NASA was developing a smaller, more sensitive X-ray spectrometer, changing the way scientists were able to use the powerful tool in deep space exploration missions. His tool, which uses thermomigration of aluminum, can gather information about remote solar systems; for the invention, Alcorn was honored as the NASA Goddard Inventor of the Year in 1984. In addition to his groundbreaking contributions as an inventor and innovator, Alcorn also championed efforts to hire more women and minorities at Goddard, for which he was honored with the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal, and taught students at Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia. He also founded the Saturday Academy, an honors program in math and science for underserved middle school students. He earned many accolades over the years from NASA and beyond. These include, in 2010, the Robert H. Goddard Award for Merit, for his outstanding innovation and significant contributions to space science, technology, and NASA programs, as well as recognition in 1994 at Howard University’s Heritage of Greatness awards ceremony. He was also inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame in 2015. Alcorn passed away in 2024 at the age of 84.

James Barrilleaux is the assistant chief pilot for ER-2s in the Flight Crew Branch of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The ER-2s--civilian variants of the military U-2S reconnaissance aircraft--are part of NASA's Airborne Science program. The ER-2s can carry airborne scientific payloads of up to 2,600 pounds to altitudes of about 70,000 feet to investigate such matters as earth resources, celestial phenomena, atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, and oceanic processes. Barrilleaux has held his current position since February 1998. Barrilleaux joined NASA in 1986 as a U-2/ER-2 pilot with NASA's Airborne Science program at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. He flew both the U-2C (until 1989) and the ER-2 on a wide variety of missions both domestic and international. Barrilleaux flew high-altitude operations over Antarctica in which scientific instruments aboard the ER-2 defined the cause of ozone depletion over the continent, known as the ozone hole. He has also flown the ER-2 over the North Pole. Barrilleaux served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force before he joined NASA. He completed pilot training at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas, in 1966. He flew 120 combat missions as a F-4 fighter pilot over Laos and North Vietnam in 1970 and 1971. He joined the U-2 program in 1974, becoming the commander of an overseas U-2 operation in 1982. In 1983, he became commander of the squadron responsible for training all U-2 pilots and SR-71 crews located at Beale Air Force Base, Marysville, California. He retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1986. On active duty, he flew the U-2, F-4 Phantom, the T-38, T-37, and the T-33. His decorations included two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 12 Air Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, and other Air Force and South Vietnamese awards. Barrilleaux earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, in 1964 and a master of science