Goddard Employees Receive Federal Executive Board Excellence Award in Federal Career Program

Several Goddard employees were recognized on May 2 at the 2003 Federal Executive Board Excellence in Federal Career luncheon and ceremony. Each year the Federal Executive Board recognizes federal employees and military service members for excellence in job performance. Recipients were presented with a Gold, Silver or Bronze award at a ceremony that was held at Martin's West in Baltimore.

From lft: Luke Winternitz/573, Michelle Gordon/565, Dr. Ross Nelson/923, Keith Lowe/112, Dr. Chester Koblinsky/971, Peter Salerno/565, Donald Hawkins/561

Six Goddard employees received a bronze award and Dr. Chester Koblinsky received silver recognition for being an Outstanding Supervisor. Koblinsky leads the Oceans and Ice Branch that concentrates efforts on science activities ranging from studies of the polar regions, ocean biology and physical oceanography. In addition to making break through discoveries of the earth system with satellite observations, branch scientists conduct laboratory studies of ocean biology and polar science, field programs on the ice at both poles, as well as at sea around the world, and computer modeling studies of various aspects of the ocean and polar regions.

Michelle Gordon received a bronze award in the category of "Rookie of the Year." Gordon began her federal career at Goddard in August 2002 as a student trainee, and is currently assigned to the Electrical Engineering Division, Electrical Systems Branch. She is an exceptional and dedicated employee with exemplary work ethics who handles an extremely heavy workload efficiently and professionally.

Bronze recipient Peter Salerno was recognized as an outstanding professional. Salerno is Lead Electrical Systems Engineer for the Hubble Space Telescope Team and gives dedication and determination that has been instrumental to the success of the Hubble program. Salerno also serves as a role model for children, teaching and inspiring the next generation of explorers.

In addition, Keith Lowe was also recognized as an outstanding professional. Lowe is an Human Resources Systems Analyst and is a well-regarded member of the workforce, known for his thorough response to all questions and actions. In addition to his technical knowledge and abilities, he displays excellent inter-personal skills. He is a team player as well as a leader and is a excellent representative of the NASA workforce.

In the category of Outstanding Para-Professional-Technical Scientific and Program Support, Donald Hawkins received a bronze award. Hawkins, an electronics technician is acknowledged for aggressively researched methodologies to produce cost effective, reliable test setups that could be ready on short notice. He defined requirements for test equipment and fixtures and was responsible for procuring them. He trained himself and several other technicians on how to use new hardware and software. He was the first technician to support off-site testing at accelerator facilities and highly admired by the test engineers for his ability to troubleshoot setup problems in real time. Under the direction of Mr. Hawkins, the Radiation Effects and Analysis Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center has provided testing support to nearly all of NASA's flight projects.

Another Bronze recipient was Luke Winternitz, electrical engineer in the Components and Hardware Branch. Winternitz has been a critical component in the development of a next generation space-borne Global Positioning System receiver for high altitude missions. In addition, Winternitz has been instrumental in implementing a new algorithm to perform very low signal-strength GPS signal acquisition and tracking that will be orders of magnitude better than any GPS receiver available today.

Although Dr. Ross F. Nelson is a research scientist in the Laboratory of Terrestrial Physics and keeps quite busy he has found time to volunteer as a paramedic with the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad (LVRS), Prince George's County Station 49, in Laurel, Maryland. Nelson has served as a volunteer for 21 years and has responded on to more than 2300 basic life support calls and well over 1000 advanced life support calls. Nelson is a Bronze Award recipient for his outstanding community service.