The Aerospace Corporation Recognizes Five Employees for Outstanding Achievement
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (September 17, 2009) -- The Aerospace Corporation awarded its most prestigious honors - the President's and Trustees' Distinguished Achievement Awards - to five employees who either worked under hazardous conditions, salvaged a major national system or saved the government more than $1 billion.
Chairman of the Board Peter Teets presented the 2009 Trustees' Distinguished Achievement Award to Dr. Eric Keim, a senior scientist working on a classified sensor in use by the intelligence community to track real world targets. The work took Keim overseas where he worked in hazardous conditions around the clock for three months.
Dr. Wanda Austin, president and chief executive officer, presented the President's Achievement Awards to distinguished scientist Dr. Mike Meshishnek, a renowned expert on testing materials developed for use on spacecraft exteriors against the harsh effects of space. Among his unique achievements, Meshishnek built a laboratory facility that supports nearly every national security space program to determine the suitability of materials for use on orbit. A recent analysis asserts that the government has realized a cost savings in excess of $1 billion as a result of Meshishnek's efforts.
The President's Achievement Award also went to the team of Peter Evans, Dr. Paul Herman and Dr. Russell Lipeles, for succeeding in identifying and correcting the root cause of a major anomaly in a key part of a classified national system. The team also established a national consortium to address the inability of industry to build this critical failed component and to prevent future problems.
"For almost 50 years the men and women of The Aerospace Corporation have worked quietly behind the scenes on some of our nation's most important space and national security programs. Today's award winners are an example of the value Aerospace brings to our nation in assuring space mission success," Austin said.
This is the 30th year for the awards.
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