External Awards and Prizes

Peer Awards - Sample Content from ASD Peer Awards 2008

Susan Teates

For her outstanding service in support of the Observational Cosmology and the Exoplanet and Stellar Astrophysics Labs.

Susan is an essential and valuable resource for the Observational Cosmology and the Exoplanet and Stellar Astrophysics Labs. Although Susan is not responsible for both of these labs, she is always available to lend a helping hand and take on extra duties because of personnel changes to the division. Her flexibility to adapt to the new systems, regulations and procedures is unprecedented. She goes above and beyond the scope of her position to provide mentoring, training and guidance to others in her field. Susan commits herself to the organization's success and is a proud participant in the NASA Mission. Susan's positive attitude and willingness to help others, combined with her outstanding support, make her a valuable asset to the Astrophysics Science Division.

Pam Levell

For her endless and untiring hard work in support of the Astrophysics Science Division.

Pam effectively handles a vast range of duties and is a jack-of -all trades. Pam processes numerous observation awards across several programs to include Suzaku, Swift, and RXTE. She is essential in processing the external grants for the Division and is the single point of contact between ASD and the NSSC for these grants. She processes travel for the X-ray Astrophysics branch and works directly with the Resource community to ensure funds availability. Pam is always involved in the coordination of division functions and her great organizational skills ensure that the ASD functions are a great success. Pam's dedication, willingness to help out and cheerful disposition contribute to the success of the Astrophysics Science Division.

Nancy Smith

For her dedication and outstanding support of the Astrophysics Science Division.

Nancy is an asset to the Astrophysics Science Division. Her dedication and attentiveness to her duties is outstanding. She coordinates the purchase of essential equipment, software and other supplies. Nancy is on top of her duties, has great record-keeping and organization and works wonderfully with the ASD staff. Nancy takes pride in her work and coordinates daily with the Resource staff to keep them informed of the purchases she initiates, even when the PIs do not. She insures the WBSs are correct and the funds are available. Nancy's can do attitude and cheerful disposition make her invaluable to the Division.

Keith Feggans

For his exemplary and diverse IT support roles.

The committee commends Keith Feggans for his outstanding computer support and extraordinary contributions to the Astrophysics Science Division. Evidence of Keith's pro-active "can do" attitude is easy to come by. One of the most commonly heard phrases in offices on the ground floor of building 21 is, "talk to Keith!" This phrase accurately captures Keith's efficiency in troubleshooting and resolving a mind-boggling array of computer issues, and clearly demonstrates the high level of respect in which he is held. Without hesitation, we commend Keith for continuing to be one of the most helpful, efficient, and highly skilled IT staff members at Goddard and beyond.

Randy Kimble

For leadership in service to the astronomical community of Wide Field Camera-3

Randy has worked tirelessly to build the peerless Wide Field Camera-3 (WFC3) for installation on the Hubble Space Telescope. WFC3 will take wide-field imaging to performance levels never before achieved, and be an invaluable resource for the entire astrophysics community for years to come. Randy's firm hand on the tiller led the WFC3 team through challenging times when Servicing Mission 4 was suddenly cancelled, and then restored by the Administrator. Flight preparation has entailed exhaustive testing and months of grueling round-the-clock thermal vacuum operations. It is now clear that WFC3 is near the finish line and poised to fulfill its promise. A critical aspect of WFC3's extraordinary observing power is its CCD and near-IR detector arrays, and Randy's leadership of the Detector Characterization Laboratory was key. Randy is expert in essentially every aspect of WFC3, and the instrument has benefited enormously from that expertise, as well as his high energy level and exemplary leadership. We have the highest respect for Randy's efforts, and eagerly look forward to using WFC3 and/or learning about its scientific discoveries. From all of us, Randy, thank you for your fine leadership!

Mary Troup

For dedication and outstanding resources support of the Astrophysics Science Division.

Mary handles the four major data centers (XMM, INTEGRAL, HEASARC, and ASTRO-E) in the division. In order to manage the financial intricacies of the data centers, Mary has created incredible spreadsheets, which allow her to know exactly, âwhere the fund are and who has it. Mary is very conscientious and works whatever hours (weekends, holidays, etc.) to complete the task. She is very knowledgeable and always manages to make time available to help others. Mary's financial knowledge, her willingness to go the extra mile, her outstanding resources support, and her pleasant and professional demeanor, makes Mary an invaluable asset to the division.

Jill Kirby

For outstanding resources support of the Astrophysics Science Division.

Jill is connected to many areas within the division. She directly supports the Gravitational Astrophysics Laboratory, works closely with the RA in the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory, is the division's reimbursable expert, and has the biggest challenge of overseeing the co-op agreement between ASD and JHU (a frustrating and time-consuming effort). No matter which area she is supporting, Jill is always available and responsive. In the short time she has been in ASD, Jill has gained the trust, confidence, and respect of those she supports and her peers. She is an individual you can always count on and is never reluctant to take on new responsibilities. Working with Jill is a pleasure.

Stephen Rinehart

For building successful new teams and new endeavors within ASD.

Stephen has been instrumental in winning new business via small proposals during the past year, which has opened up new scientific endeavors. Most important of these has been his leadership of a new laboratory astrophysics program. Stephen has gathered people from various disciplines across Goddard - including theorists, hardware experts, engineers and diverse scientists - in starting the first new Laboratory Astrophysics projects in 665/667. It is this kind of scientist, who brings together people to make a team that is much greater than the sum of its parts, and yet who does this as a peer rather than a supervisor or Project Manager, that exemplifies the shared goals of excellence in research along with a convivial environment.

David Rapchun

For excellence in designing, assembling, and completing instruments and test systems.

Dave Rapchun has a long track record of excellent work in bringing new instruments and test facilities to completion. This includes the large-scale effort of building the systems for testing the Microshutters, from designing the hardware and writing the control software to operating the equipment. This work has contributed significantly to the success of the microshutter development effort. In addition, Dave is, by nature and by training, an expert in digital electronics systems including computers and laboratory data acquisition systems. He is always available at a moment's notice to help with many such things, and provides both knowledgeable advice and donates his skilled labor. We thank him for the years of help he's provided by this commendation.

Kai-Wing Chan

For sustained contributions to advanced X-ray instrumentation.

Kai-Wing Chan has made important contributions to three instruments that were successfully delivered to three separate missions: Astro-E1, InFOCuS, and Suzaku. These instruments provided sensitivity in a wide energy band, cost effectiveness, and agility to the study of a vast variety of celestial X-ray sources. Recently, he has shouldered the responsibility of R&D on Constellation-X soft X-ray mirrors, where his technical contributions have achieved a 15" angular resolution of a pair of reflectors in the X-ray. His contributions to ASD include: experimental design with his analytical approach and thoroughness, data analysis and interpretation with his strong physics background and insights, and workforce coordination with his well-tempered character.

Nikolai Shaposhnikov

For doing the scientific analysis that generated a blockbuster news story

We commend Nikolai Shaposhnikov for his analysis of many different data sets to find patterns in the timing and spectral behavior of black holes and neutron stars with careful attention to the correct calibration of instruments. He, along with Lev Titarchuk, compared data from several sources to a theory of a relation between the timing and the spectral properties. They calibrated it with sources for which dynamical masses are known. Application to a source with a poorly determined dynamical mass implies it is the smallest black hole yet measured. This idea of the smallest black hole yet measured apparently caught the fancy of the press and Bob Naeye's press release and Nikolai's press conference was picked up all over the world.

Tod Strohmayer

For dedication to high quality science output of missions, and service to both the scientific and NASA communities.

Tod displays an above-and-beyond dedication to high quality science output for both existing and planned missions. His service to both the scientific community and to the NASA community is exemplary. His ambitious efforts to maximize the science return from missions contribute positively to the future of Goddard astrophysics. Specifically, his contributions to the programmatic aspects of RXTE allow a large cross section of the community to use the mission to make unique discoveries. His clear understanding of the many complex data modes for RXTE makes him the point person to answer complex questions from guest observers.

Kip Kuntz

For his generous donation of time in tackling key data analysis questions that have proved critical to the success of NASA Goddard missions.

Kip has contributed enormously to division data analysis efforts in many areas. He has done most of this without getting paid by NASA projects even though this work has been critical to the success of those projects. Kip is always hard working, of good humor and of critical importance. His efforts have produced the large ultraviolet source catalog from the XMM Optical Monitor and the XMM background subtraction model (of vital importance to understanding diffuse X-ray sources). Kip has donated generously of his time and has helped many others in the lab with data analysis questions.

Richard Mushotzky

For his unstated but genuine open door policy which greatly adds to the overall productivity and success of the lab.

Richard is an essential part of practically every new mission or detector concept and provides a constant flow of scientific ideas and news to the lab. His unstated but genuine 'open door' policy gives everyone the opportunity to ask questions, pose hypothetical concepts, or bounce ideas off an experienced and friendly scientist. Richard regularly suggests new ways to address old problems; this creates new proposal ideas, which he willingly shares with others. Without Richard's constant flow of ideas, the scientific output of the entire lab would be severely impacted.

Fred Finkbeiner

For his attention to detail and dedication to X-ray microcalorimeter development.

Fred Finkbeiner is an unsung hero of X-ray calorimeter development for Constellation-X. He has shown initiative and leadership in several innovative aspects of the current TES development program, most notably in his leading of the development of electroplated micro-vias and microtrenches for the read-out and heatsinking of large TES arrays such as are needed for Constellation-X. Fred can lead or follow as necessary to a given project, in a nearly selfless way most unusual among scientists. He is active in setting the direction of the development of the fabrication process, and he is careful and systematic in every aspect of the development that he undertakes. While the team members who get to present the latest high-resolution results get the limelight, these results would not be possible without Fred's ongoing work in materials characterization and process control.

Wayne Geisbert

For his unwavering dedication to the Astrophysics Science Division.

Wayne is our versatile go-to-guy that we've all come to rely on during his time with the Astrophysics Science Division. He is responsible for ordering supplies and does cost comparisons to ensure that we purchase the most economical products to save valuable supply funds. Wayne manages property and equipment, assists with any move, and comes through wherever there is a need for an extra set of hands. He is friendly and witty and quiet and quick. He takes care of all tasks efficiently and effectively. Wayne is essential to so many different aspects of ASD's everyday life.

Craig Markwardt

For his solution of the problem of the misaligned gyros, returning the Swift Observatory to full operation.

As member of the Swift science team, Craig developed a software tool to model the Swift attitude control system. The Swift mission became in jeopardy in August 2007 when intermittent glitches of one of its two gyros became unacceptably large and increasingly more frequent. Craig's system gave him an understanding of why the misalignment of the gyro axes caused such a problem, making it possible to test ideas for dealing with the misalignment. His approach worked and the current flight software was then used to return the Swift to normal operations in October 2007. It has remained operational since then and Craig is credited for saving a valuable NASA mission from an otherwise costly and time-consuming great delay.