NASA Exceptional Service Medal

The NASA Exceptional Service Medal is an award granted to U.S. government employees for significant sustained performance characterized by unusual initiative or creative ability that clearly demonstrates substantial improvement in engineering, aeronautics, space flight, administration, support, or space-related endeavors which contribute to NASA programs.

The medal was inherited by NASA from its predecessor organization, the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) and featured the NACA emblem. The original NASA version featured the NASA seal.

Notable recipients

 * Buzz Aldrin
 * Charles F. Bolden, Jr. (twice)
 * Roger B. Chaffee (posthumously)
 * Kevin Chilton
 * Michael Collins (1966)
 * Paul D. Lowman
 * William H. Dana
 * John H. Disher (twice, last in 1980)
 * Einar Enevoldson (twice: 1974 and 1980)
 * Christer Fuglesang (2010)
 * Fitzhugh L. Fulton (twice)
 * Alfred Gessow (1974)
 * Gus Grissom
 * John M. Grunsfeld (three awards)
 * Umberto Guidoni (2002)
 * Joseph Gutheinz (2000)
 * Chris Hadfield
 * Joan E. Higginbotham
 * David M. Jones
 * Mark Kelly
 * Don Leslie Lind (1974)
 * James A. Lovell (with star)
 * William S. McArthur
 * Pamela Matson
 * Robert J. Parks (1967)
 * Arthur Rudolph
 * Tecwyn Roberts (1969)
 * Walter M. Schirra (1964 and 1968)
 * David Scott (1966)
 * Epaminondas Stassinopoulos (1992)
 * Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
 * Richard H. Truly (two awards)
 * Peggy Whitson
 * John W. Young (1965 and 1966)