55th Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner

The National Space Club sponsors the Goddard Memorial Dinner. The National Space Club, founded in 1957, is a non-profit organization composed of representatives of industry, government, educational institutions, and private individuals, which collectively seek to promote United States leadership in the fields of rocketry, astronautics, and related technologies. The objectives of the Club include the promotion of youth in these fields, and the exchange of current information on astronautics.

Awards are presented at the Dinner to a number of outstanding individuals for accomplishments in spaceflight, engineering, science, management and education. The premier award, the Goddard Trophy, is presented to the individual, group or program deemed to have made the most significant contribution to space activity in the previous year.

The Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner is the major event of the Washington space calendar, first celebrated in 1958. Held each year in late March or early April, near the anniversary of the first successful flight by Dr. Goddard of a liquid-fueled rocket, it brings together nearly 2,000 members of the government, industry and educational space community.

2011 Awardees

Simon Ramo, Ph.D.
Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy. The Trophy is the Club's preeminent award and it is given to recognize significant contribution to United States leadership in the field of rocketry and astronautics. This year's recipient was chosen for his lifetime of engineering and scientific leadership and achievement that has made an unparalleled impact on our nation's space programs. Among his many accomplishments are many critical early space programs including the Thor, Atlas and Titan rockets, intercontinental ballistic missiles, Project Mercury, Pioneer 1, VIKING 1 and 2, the Lunar Excursion Model Descent Engine and many other programs.

Colonel Ernesto V. Benavides
USAF Director, Reconnaissance Systems Office, has been chosen as the Dr. Joseph V. Charyk Award winner, recognizing an individual in, or supporting, the NRO who has made an outstanding personal contribution to the national intelligence space program and its mission.

Lidia Cucurull, Ph.D.
NOAA Program Scientist, receives the NOAA - David Johnson Award created to recognize the achievements of young professionals who have shown outstanding innovation in the use of satellite data for operational environmental applications.

Leonard David
Independent Journalist, is recognized with the Press Award for significant contributions to public knowledge and understanding of astronautics and its impact upon our nation and all humankind.

Kenneth R. Fiscus
Science Teacher, Albert Lea Senior High School, was chosen as the recipient of the Space Educator Award recognizing the importance of the secondary school teacher in motivating and guiding high school students in the study of and careers in space science and technology.

Jeffrey M. Hanley
Associate Director for Strategic Capabilities, NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, will receive the Astronautics Engineer Award annually presented to a space engineer who has made an outstanding personal contribution to the national space program.

LTC Patrick J. Mullin
1st Space Brigade, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Force Strategic Command, will receive the General Bernard Schriever Award for honoring the General's legacy and vision by recognizing excellence in military space operations and acquisition.

Svetlana Shkolyar
Student, University of North Dakota was chosen for the Goddard Memorial Scholarship provided to a university upperclassman with definite plans to pursue studies in science or engineering. The Scholarship's purpose is stimulate the interest of talented students in the opportunity to advance scientific knowledge through space research and exploration.

Lili Sun
Student, River Hill High School, won the Olin E. Teague Memorial Scholarship as an outstanding graduating high school student who intends to pursue higher education in science and technology.

Rita Willcoxon
Director, Launch Vehicle Processing, NASA Kennedy Space Center, was selected to receive the Eagle Manned Mission Award for making a significant contribution to manned space flight.

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Program
under the direction of Dave Hamilton, Director, Rapid Capabilities Group, The United States Air Force, and Paul Rusnock, Vice President, Experimental Systems Group, The Boeing Company, was selected for the Nelson P. Jackson Aerospace Award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the missile, aircraft and space field by industry during the preceding year.