2016 Peer Awards
Ian Jones, Team Player
Ian is truly a star team player with the Scientific Visualization Studio, and is a wiz with multimedia and peripheral devices. He works very hard, but is quick with a witty joke or comment to keep things light when needed. He goes out of his way to help anyone in need, and will stay late to ensure problems are resolved.
James Walker, Health, Safety and Security Award
Jim goes above and beyond to make sure our workplace is a safe environment. Conscious of our health & safety policies and requirements, Jim noticed that our Automated External Defibrillators needed updating and brought it to the attention of the health and safety officer. Jim helps to conduct the SESDA health & safety inspections, helps to ensure ISO 9001 compliance, and always has great tips for his coworkers to improve workplace safety.
Mohammed Nauage, Technical Excellence
Since his first days with the Unified Used Interface team at GES DISC, Mohammed has been steadily delivering innovative solutions and deploying cutting-edge technologies. Within a month of working on the UUI project, he has improved the user interface performance nearly two-fold. Mohammed consistently demonstrates a high level of proficiency in user interface technologies, and is a truly deserving winner of the technical excellence award.
Brendan Perry, Unsung Hero
Brendan writes, ports, develops, maintains and manages software for the U.S. XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility. He has recently taken on the exceedingly tricky task of generating accurate XMM-Newton trend files that pull in data from a wide net of missions, including ACE, all to get an accurate reading on the solar weather environment. He tackles data analysis tools in a complex computing environment, and Brendan’s work continues to be a major part of a consortium involving NASA and the European Space Agency.
Benjamin Pelletier, Innovator
Before Ben created a simple and elegant user interface for Code 600 staff to submit publications into the SED database, the exacting and complicated process drove the scientific staff crazy. But Ben developed a DOI ingest form, which allows the user to copy and paste a single string of numbers, click a few buttons, and submit the form. The new process has greatly increased participation, and has been met by acclaim by the scientists.
Laurence Schuler, Technical Excellence
“Amazing,” is how Larry’s nominator aptly described him. Larry is upgrading SVS’s internal network with enthusiasm and skill, quickly getting up to speed on configuring the different switch operating systems and working through issues that come with their interactions. He is great to work with and will track down solutions to even the most obscure problems.
Aruna Muppalla, Team Player
Users of the High End Computing Network and Science & Engineering Network at Goddard will often specifically seek out Aruna for help. She stays late to help dig into and resolve problems, and has held down the fort when other members of the small group are away. She’s a valuable member of the HECN/SEN team, and is incredibly technically competent in her job.
Jewel Taylor, Unsung Hero
Jewel is the glue that binds together all aspects of the Code 600 IT System Security Plan authorization and accreditation effort. As the point person on this effort, she brings an in-depth understanding of required procedures, coordinates and tracks information from the players in the effort. Her role in getting the Code 600 authorization to operate has been essential, earning her the Unsung Hero award.
Michael Bur, Technical Excellence
If anyone has any security-related questions, they immediately go to Mike for answers – he is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of NASA computer security. He works late nights and weekends to complete time-critical actions and agency mandates, and during security incidents he keeps relations friendly as the liaison between groups. Mike is truly concerned about NASA’s mission, not just in keeping the Directorate’s systems secure, but in understanding the importance of working with users who need his help.
Paul Huwe, Technical Excellence
Paul joined the GES DISC a year ago, ready to jump in and help right away. He quickly displayed his ability to be both a scientist and scientific programmer, and has developed new software that provides a subsetting and regridding capability of the data distributed at the GES DISC. He was very detail-oriented in documenting necessary items, capturing requirements, communicating with staff and analyzing the software output for each step, all of which truly demonstrated his value to the team.
Joshua Blumenfeld, Wildcard
As the first science writer assigned to the EOSDIS Communications team, Josh has spread the word about how NASA’s Earth science data enables the sciences and technologies. Josh’s contributions to the NASA Earth data website have led to recognition by our government customers at both Goddard and NASA HQ. His articles have also raised the profile of the ESDIS Communications Team efforts both within the local education and public outreach community and across the twelve NASA EOSDIS Distributed Active Archive Centers.
Karen Fox, Leadership
Karen has taken the helm on many projects, and constantly thinks about new ways to improve processes and products. She stepped up to organize an AGU Conference press panel at the last minute, she proposed a new outreach Common Interest Group, and she works closely with interns and co-op students with the Office of Communications. Karen also has defined a trail-blazing role to act as the liaison between the Heliophysics Science Division at Goddard and NASA HQ, greatly improving communications between those groups.
