Photo credit: www.nasa.gov
Robert Cabana Honored with President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service
Robert Cabana, a distinguished figure in the realms of aerospace and military service, has been awarded the President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service. This prestigious accolade is the pinnacle recognition that the federal government can bestow upon a civilian employee and acknowledges Cabana’s remarkable contributions to the nation.
The award, signed by President Biden, was ceremoniously presented by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy at NASA Headquarters in Washington on January 10. Cabana concluded his tenure as NASA’s associate administrator, the agency’s top-ranking civil servant, at the end of 2023.
Bill Nelson remarked on Cabana’s legacy, stating, “A true public servant, Bob has spent his entire career in service to his country. I can think of no one more deserving of this rare honor than Bob. From his time as a naval aviator to his role as associate administrator of NASA, Bob has dedicated his life to improving his country. I join with President Biden in thanking Bob for his dedication and commitment.”
This award underscores Cabana’s extensive accomplishments, including his service as a Marine aviator and test pilot, alongside his notable achievement of being the first American to dock at the International Space Station. He has also played crucial roles in the development of innovative projects like the James Webb Space Telescope and the Artemis I mission, which aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time in decades.
During his career at NASA, Cabana participated in four spaceflights, executing two as commander. His final mission in 1998 involved the assembly of the International Space Station. For over ten years, he directed NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, managing its transformation into a multi-user spaceport that facilitates NASA astronaut launches and collaborations with commercial partners.
In his capacity as NASA associate administrator, Cabana was instrumental in overseeing the agency’s operations, guiding ten center directors and managing a workforce of over 18,000 employees while controlling an annual budget exceeding $25 billion.
Selected as an astronaut candidate in June 1985, Cabana completed his training a year later and logged a total of 38 days in space. He piloted space shuttle Discovery during the STS-41 mission in 1990, which launched the Ulysses spacecraft, and served as a mission commander on several missions, including the STS-65 in 1994 and STS-88 in 1998.
Cabana’s substantial career in NASA began after his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971 with a degree in mathematics. He became a naval aviator and later graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981, amassing over 7,000 flight hours across more than 50 different types of aircraft. He concluded his military career as a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps in September 2000.
In addition to his recent award, Cabana’s extensive accolades include induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and recognition as an Associate Fellow by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. His honors also encompass the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, alongside the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement’s National Space Trophy.
For more detailed information about Cabana’s career and achievements, visit:
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Source
www.nasa.gov