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Release: 01-221

Marshall Center Director Stephenson receives NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal

Art Stephenson, director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., was awarded NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal in a June 21 ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The award was given to him for his leadership in the formulation and development of the Space Launch Initiative and commitment to improve the safety, cost and reliability of future space transportation systems.

The Space Launch Initiative is NASA's program, led by the Marshall Center, to define, develop and test technologies for access to space at dramatically lower cost and with much greater safety.

The Marshall Center is NASA’s premier organization for development of space transportation and propulsion systems and NASA’s leader in microgravity research and advanced large optics manufacturing technology.

Leading one of NASA’s largest field installations, Stephenson administers a broad range of research and development activities, along with more than 6,500 civil service and contract employees and an annual budget of $2.3 billion.

Since joining Marshall in 1998, he has overseen the Center’s work on critical NASA initiatives such as development of new reusable launch vehicles, research in microgravity, and operations support for science payloads aboard the International Space Station.

Stephenson also led the Center during a period highlighted by the launch and beginning of successful operations of the Chandra X-ray Observatory — the world’s most powerful X-ray telescope.

He began his career in 1964 with TRW in Redondo Beach, Calif. In his first assignment, he designed a computer test set to verify performance of the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module Abort Guidance System.  He later led the development of the Pioneer Jupiter Spacecraft receiver, the first spacecraft to leave our solar system, and development of the Space Shuttle S-band communication network transponder, still in use today.

From 1988 to 1992, Stephenson was director of space transportation and advanced programs, heading TRW’s study teams for NASA’s Assured Crew Return Vehicle De-Orbit Module as well as projects for U.S. military and international space programs.

In 1992, he joined Oceaneering International Inc., and served as vice president and general manager of Oceaneering Space Systems in Houston.  Under his leadership, the organization grew from 30 to 220 employees in five years, serving Marshall, Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Departments of Defense and Energy, and many prime contractors.

Stephenson was promoted to president of Oceaneering Advanced Technologies in 1997.  This position combined Oceaneering Space Systems with responsibilities for Oceaneering’s U.S. Navy, Department of Energy and entertainment businesses, including submarine rescue system design, robotics for hazardous waste cleanup at nuclear waste sites in the United States, and attractions for theme parks in Florida, California and Japan.

Stephenson is an Associate Fellow member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of the National Space Society and American Astronautical Society.

A graduate in electrical engineering from the University of Redlands, Calif., he also completed the executive program in management at the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California at Los Angeles.