Robert Kavanagh, a former NASA deputy administrator, astronaut, and colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, received the President’s Award for Meritorious Service to the United States in recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments and public service to the nation. The award, signed by President Biden, is the highest honor the federal government bestows on a federal military member.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy presented Kavanagh with the award on January 10 at a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Kavanagh most recently served as NASA Deputy Administrator, the agency’s highest-ranking official, from 2021 until his retirement. From the agency at the end of 2023.
“A true public servant, Bob has spent his entire career serving his country. I can think of no one more deserving of this rare honor than Bob,” Nelson said. “From his days as a naval aviator to his role as deputy administrator of NASA, Bob has dedicated his life to improving our country, and I join President Biden in expressing our gratitude for his dedication and dedication. ”
The award recognizes Mr. Kavanagh’s roles as a Marine aviator, test pilot and astronaut, and for being the first American to enter the International Space Station. He was also recognized for continuing to push the boundaries of what was possible by launching the James Webb Space Telescope, the Artemis I mission, and the Orion spacecraft, which returned humans to the moon for the first time in decades.
As a NASA astronaut, Cabana flew in space four times, including twice as a commander. His last Space Shuttle flight in 1998 was the first International Space Station assembly mission. Kavanagh also served as director of the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for more than a decade. There, he led the transition from the retirement of the Space Shuttle to a multi-user spaceport, once again launched NASA astronauts into low Earth orbit, and worked with commercial partners for the first time.
As NASA Associate Administrator, Kavanagh led NASA’s 10 Center Directors as well as the Mission Directorate Associate Administrator at NASA Headquarters. As the agency’s chief operating officer, he oversaw more than 18,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $25 billion.
Cabana was selected as an astronaut candidate in June 1985 and completed his training in July 1986. He spent 38 days in space on four shuttle missions. Cabana served as Space Shuttle Discovery pilot for both the STS-41 mission in October 1990, which deployed the Ulysses spacecraft, and the STS-53 mission in December 1992. He served as mission commander for Space Shuttle Columbia during the STS-65 mission in July. Experiments were conducted in 1994 as part of the 2nd International Microgravity Laboratory Mission. He commanded Space Shuttle Endeavor on the STS-88 mission in December 1998.
Mr. Kavanagh was appointed to the Federal Executive Committee in 2000 and held a number of senior management positions at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, ultimately becoming Deputy Director. He was named director of NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi in October 2007, and a year later was named NASA’s Kennedy director.
Born in Minneapolis, Kavanagh graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He became a naval aviator and graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981. During his career, Cabana logged more than 7,000 flight hours in more than 50 different types of aircraft. He retired as a colonel in the United States Marine Corps in September 2000.
In addition to receiving the President’s Award for Federal Merit, Kavanagh’s accomplishments were recognized by his induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, his appointment as an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and his Fellowship of the Experimental Test Pilots Association. He has received numerous individual awards and medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Presidential Distinguished Class Award. He is also the recipient of the National Space Trophy at the Rotary National Space Achievement Awards.
For more information on Cabana, please visit:
https://go.nasa.gov/3u9hGB2
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Mayra Bernstein / Jennifer Doeren
Headquarters, Washington
202-615-1747 / 202-358-1600
meira.b.bernstein@nasa.gov / jennifer.m.dooren@nasa.gov
