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 (1969)
 * Robert O. Aller (twice)
 * Neil Armstrong (1966)
 * Brandon T. Bailey (2019)
 * Charles Bolden (thrice)
 * John R. Casani (1965)
 * Lin Chambers (2009)
 * Kevin Chilton
 * Eileen Collins (1998)
 * Michael Collins (1966)
 * Lana Couch (1986)
 * Nagin Cox
 * William H. Dana
 * Jean Dickey (1998)
 * John H. Disher (twice, last in 1980)
 * Einar Enevoldson (1974 and 1980)
 * Christer Fuglesang (2010)
 * Fitzhugh L. Fulton (1977 and 1983)
 * Alfred Gessow (1974)
 * Gus Grissom
 * John M. Grunsfeld (1997, 1998, and 2000)
 * Umberto Guidoni (2002)
 * Joseph Gutheinz (2000)
 * Chris Hadfield (2002)
 * Karl Heimburg (1969)
 * Joan E. Higginbotham
 * David M. Jones
 * Mark Kelly
 * Don Leslie Lind (1974)
 * James A. Lovell (with star)
 * Paul D. Lowman
 * William S. McArthur
 * Pamela Matson
 * Saverio "Sonny" Morea (twice)
 * James B. Odom (1973)
 * Robert J. Parks (1967)
 * Julie Payette (2010)
 * Arthur Rudolph
 * Tecwyn Roberts (1969)
 * Walter M. Schirra (1964 and 1968)
 * David Scott (1966)
 * Sigurd A. Sjoberg (1969)
 * Deke Slayton
 * Andrew J. Stofan (1975)
 * Epaminondas Stassinopoulos (1992)
 * Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
 * Richard H. Truly (two awards)
 * Peggy Whitson (1993, 2003, 2006, and 2008)
 * John W. Young (1965 and 1966)
 * Aseel Anabtawi (2007).
 * Frank Borman 1965