Honoree Award
The SFA Honoree Award is one of the highest recognitions presented to NASA and industry employees. An Honoree Award is presented to employees for their dedication to quality work and flight safety. These employees are rewarded with a visit to a space facility as NASA VIPs. When an SFA Honoree Event is held at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the honorees have the opportunity to view a Shuttle launch, attend reception in their honor, and meet with top NASA and industry officials as well as members of the Astronaut Corps. For launch honoree events, those employees located at KSC receive a trip to JSC as part of their award. The trip consists of a VIP tour of JSC and an opportunity to meet senior management and members of the Astronaut Corps.
The award consists of:
- Framed honoree certificate
- Honoree lapel pin
- Congratulatory letter from senior management
- Honoree bag containing mementos from all participating SFA Panel representation
Award Presentation Process
Following honoree selections and before traveling to KSC or JSC, the SFA National Panel member will prepare a congratulatory letter to be signed by a member of senior management. The letter is presented to the honoree by a representative of the honoree's organization as recognition and notification before the event. During the launch honoree event, an astronaut or a high-level government/industry management representative presents the honoree certificates and pins to the honorees at a small, appropriate award function (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) with their co-worker honorees, and management if available. A photographer will cover the function. The SFA National Panel member will prepare a few words to be read about each honoree as the certificates are awarded.
Criteria
A call for nominations is sent out 60 to 90 days prior to the launch events. This award may not be used as a recognition award for an individual's longevity, retirement, or separation from service. The National Panel member provides final approval before award presentation. The individual must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
- 1. Significantly contributed beyond his or her normal work requirements to the development and implementation of human spaceflight programs while ensuring quality and safety.
- 2. Accomplished single specific achievements that have had significant impact on attaining a particular human spaceflight program goal while ensuring quality and safety.
- 3. Contributed to a major cost saving or a series of lesser cost savings pertaining directly to human spaceflight programs.
- 4. Has been instrumental in developing modifications to human spaceflight mission hardware, software, or materials that increase reliability, efficiency, or performance.
- 5. Assisted in operational improvements that increase efficiency or performance.
- 6. Has been a key player in developing a beneficial process improvement of significant magnitude
Eligibility and Nomination
Full-time employees are eligible for Honoree Awards provided they have not been previous award recipients and they meet the established criteria. To meet the criteria for this award, the individual's job performance must be oriented either directly or indirectly to flight safety or mission success. It must be of an outstanding nature to distinguish the individual in his or her particular area of responsibility. As a rule, the SFA Honoree Award is not given to management personnel.