Country United States Status Active | Type Medal Established July 29, 1959 | |
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Eligibility Government employees and non-government personnel Next (higher) Exceptional Scientific Achievement MedalExceptional Engineering Achievement MedalExceptional Technology Achievement MedalExceptional Administrative Achievement MedalEqual Employment Opportunity Medal | ||
The NASA Exceptional Bravery Medal is a NASA award for exemplary and courageous handling of an emergency by an individual who, independent of personal danger, has acted to prevent the loss of human life or U.S. government property. The award is open to government and non-government employees.
The first two medals were awarded in 1969 to NASA engineers Bill B. McClure and Charles J. "Jack" Beverlin, who prevented the collapse and explosion of an Atlas rocket at great risk to their own lives. A feature on Mars was later named after them.
Exceptional Bravery Medals were also awarded to Herbert W. Grandy in 1970, and to Paul D. Sebesta in 1974. Subsequently, thirty eight workers at the Michoud Assembly Facility were awarded this medal for protecting the facility from flooding due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.