Come to the 

Federation of Galaxy Explorers

Galaxy Ball

June 3rd, 2006

Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel

This event recognizes leaders in the space industry and our most dedicated volunteers.  Come join us for a wonderful evening under the stars!

Meet Our Gala Sponsors!

Our 2006 Space Leadership Award recipient

The Honorable Dr. Michael Griffin

Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, Dr. Michael Griffin began his duties as the 11th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on April 14, 2005. As Administrator, he leads the NASA team and manages its resources to advance the U.S

Prior to being nominated as NASA Administrator, Griffin was serving as Space Department Head at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. He was previously President and Chief Operating Officer of In-Q-Tel, Inc., and also served in several positions within Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, VA, including Chief Executive Officer of Orbital’s Magellan Systems division and General Manager of the Space Systems Group.

Earlier in his career, Griffin served as Chief Engineer and as Associate Administrator for Exploration at NASA, and as Deputy for Technology at the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and George Washington University, where he taught courses in spacecraft design, applied mathematics, guidance and navigation, compressible flow, computational fluid dynamics, spacecraft attitude control, astrodynamcis and introductory aerospace engineering. He is the lead author of more than two dozen technical papers, as well as the textbook, "Space Vehicle Design."

A registered professional engineer in Maryland and California, Griffin is a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, the AIAA Space Systems Medal and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given to a non-government employee.

Griffin received a bachelor's degree in Physics from Johns Hopkins University; a master's degree in Aerospace Science from Catholic University of America; a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland; a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California; a master's degree in Applied Physics from Johns Hopkins University; a master's degree in Business Administration from Loyola College; and a master's degree in Civil Engineering from George Washington University. He is a certified flight instructor with instrument and multiengine ratings.

Our 2006 Space Education Inspiration Award recipient

 

The Honorable Dr. Ronald M. Sega

Dr. Ronald M. Sega is Under Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. Dr. Sega is responsible for all actions of the Air Force on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force and is acting Secretary in the Secretary's absence. In that capacity, he oversees the recruiting, training and equipping of more than 710,000 people, and a budget of approximately $110 billion. Designated the Department of Defense Executive Agent for Space, Dr. Sega develops, coordinates and integrates plans and programs for space systems and the acquisition of all DoD space major defense acquisition programs.

Dr. Sega has had an extensive career in government service, academia and research. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1974 as a distinguished graduate. His active-duty assignments included instructor pilot and Department of Physics faculty member at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He entered the Air Force Reserve in 1982 with the 901st Tactical Airlift Group at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., serving in a variety of operations positions. From 1987 to 2001 he served at Air Force Space Command in several assignments, including Mission Ready Crew Commander for satellite operations for the Global Positioning System, Defense Support Program and Midcourse Space Experiment. A command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, he retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2005 as a major general, last serving as the reserve assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dr. Sega joined NASA as an astronaut in 1990, making his first shuttle flight in 1994 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. From November 1994 to March 1995, he was NASA's Director of Operations, Russia, responsible for managing NASA activities supporting astronaut and cosmonaut training for flight on the Russian Mir space station. He completed his second shuttle flight in 1996 as payload commander for the third shuttle/Mir docking mission aboard Atlantis, completing his astronaut tenure with 420 hours in space.

Since 1982, Dr. Sega has been a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a rank of professor since 1990. In addition to teaching and research activities, he was Technical Director of the Laser and Aerospace Mechanics Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s F.J. Seiler Research Laboratory, and Assistant Director of the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center, including management of the Wake Shield Facility Flight Programs at the University of Houston. Dr. Sega was the Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado from 1996 to 2001. In August 2001, he was appointed as the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Office of the Secretary of Defense, serving as chief technical officer for the Department and the chief adviser to the Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics for scientific and technical matters. Dr. Sega has authored or co-authored more than 100 technical publications, has served on numerous local, regional and national advisory and governance boards, and he is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

 

James E. Haywood Award for Excellence

 

The Federation's James E. Haywood Award for Excellence is presented to the volunteer who demonstrated superior performance in three areas: organizational skills; dedication; and hard work.  This volunteer uses superior organizational skills to develop the organization in an inclusive fashion that welcomes and utilizes all participants.  In addition, this person demonstrates dedication to the cause of educating children in science and engineering and the willingness to support that dedication through hard work.  

 

The award is named after Col. James E. Haywood, USAF, for using those same characteristics to develop and expand the U.S. Air Force space program. Col. Haywood's pioneering approach had a deep and lasting influence on the Federation and serves as an inspiration to us all.