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NWS Spaceflight Meteorology Group Forecasters Earn NASA Recognition


Ron Trumbla
NOAA National Weather Service
Southern Region Headquarters

NWS Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG) Lead Forecaster Tim Garner is the latest recipient of NASA's prestigious "Silver Snoopy" award. NASA astronauts present Silver Snoopy awards to employees who make "contributions toward enhancing the probability of mission success." Only one percent of employees earn Silver Snoopy awards.

Garner said, "I was very surprised at receiving the award.  I am the second NWS employee that I know of who has received the award.  I really wished that it would have been a team award because our job cannot be done alone."

Garner was recognized for his expertise in weather forecasting, meteorological decision support, instrumentation, interactive systems and statistical analysis; making him the "go to" person for many spaceflight weather issues at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

He was also cited for making a difficult and accurate forecast for the landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavor in March 2008.  The last-minute forecast update for "GO" landing weather conditions resulted in a safe landing at Kennedy Space Center on a very challenging and dynamic weather day.

Astronaut Sunita Williams and JSC Center Director Mike Coats presented Tim Garner with the Silver Snoopy pin, a certificate, and a letter of commendation.


Astronaut Sunita Williams, Tim Garner and Mike Coats pose for picture.
(L to R) Astronaut Sunita Williams, Lead Forecaster Tim Garner, and
Johnson Space center Director Mike Coats. Photo credit: NASA)


Meanwhile, SMG Lead Forecaster Richard LaFosse has been selected as a Space Flight Awareness Honoree.  This award is one of the highest available to employees of the NASA industry and International Partner space flight team. In recognition of his outstanding service to the Space Shuttle program, LaFosse and a guest will be on hand to view a future Space Shuttle launch, receive a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Center and attend a reception in his honor.

Of this honor, LaFosse said, "The cornerstone of NASA mission operations is teamwork so I'm honored to receive the SFA award after working 15 years supporting the space shuttle program as a member of one of the best NWS teams, the Spaceflght Meteorology Group."


Frank Brody and Richard LaFosse.
SMG Meteorologist-in-Charge Frank Brody (left) and Richard LaFosse display NASA letter designating LaFosse as a Space Flight Awareness Honoree. Photo credit: NOAA/SMG.