Fri, Jan 13, 2012
AIAA Honor Presented Annually For Distinguished Work In
Astronautics
The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
has honored Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the
Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate with the Von
Karman Lectureship in Astronautics.
The award is given annually to someone who has performed notably
and distinguished themselves technically in the field of
astronautics. Gerstenmaier was recognized for his 30 years of
accomplishment in human spaceflight, culminating in the leadership
of the Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs.
As part of the award, Gerstenmaier delivered the speech "Global
Outpost in Space: A Platform for Discovery -- The International
Space Station" Wednesday during the AIAA's 50th Aerospace Sciences
Meeting in Nashville, Tenn. The award honors Theodore von Karman,
an early astronautics pioneer responsible for breakthroughs in
understanding supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization
and the value of the swept wing design.
"It is truly an honor to receive this special recognition from
the AIAA and to have the opportunity to speak at this year's
conference about the International Space Station and its importance
to the future of human exploration," Gerstenmaier said. "Serving as
a test bed for research and new technologies, the space station is
the centerpiece for space operations and a stepping stone toward
future exploration destinations."
Gerstenmaier began his NASA career in 1977 at the Glenn Research
Center in Cleveland performing aeronautical research, after
receiving a B.S. aeronautical engineering from Purdue University.
In 1988, he became head of the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV)
Operations Office, Systems Division at the Johnson Space Center.
Gerstenmaier also served as Shuttle/Mir Program Operations Manager
from 1995 to 1997. In 1998, he became manager of Space Shuttle
Program Integration. In December 2000, he was named deputy manager
of the International Space Station Program, becoming the associate
administrator for space operations in 2005. Currently, he heads the
agency's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.
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