2010 National Defense Space Award Recipient: Captain Kathryn L. Gray

Captain Kathryn Gray is the Space Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander for the 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida. She is responsible for coordinating and integrating space tactics and capabilities, including navigation, personnel recovery, missile warning, and friendly force tracking, into Air Force special operations.

Capt Gray graduated from California State University, Fresno in 2000. After school, she was assigned to the 3d Space Operations Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado as a Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS III) satellite operator and engineer, where she was responsible for launch and day-to-day operations for the 13-satellite constellation. In 2004, she was assigned to the 3d Space Launch Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, where she was the Booster Operations Controller for the final launch of the Titan IV rocket from the East coast. After the launch, she became the Chief of Training at the 45th Operations Support Squadron until she was selected to be the 45th Operations Group Executive Officer. In December 2007, Capt Gray graduated from the Air Force Weapons School’s Space Weapons Instructor Course.

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About the Award

The Florida National Defense Space Award was created in 2005 by the National Space NSCFL Florida Committee to recognize significant achievements and contributions made by Depa
rtment of Defense (DoD) personnel while on duty in the State of Florida.  The award celebrates major contributions of DoD active duty military, DoD civilians and DoD contractors in space-related areas that significantly contribute to the defense of our nation.

Nominees for this award can come from any DoD or contractor organization and any level within their organization in the State of Florida.  Nominees may include active duty DoD officers and enlisted personnel, DoD civil servants, and contractors directly performing for the DoD in a space-related area.  The intent of this award is to honor individuals, who, through their duty while stationed in Florida, make major contributions to the defense of our nation in a space-related area.

At an appropriate ceremony, each honoree, or their designee, will be presented with a plaque that the recipient will keep.  Also, each honoree’s name and date of award will be inscribed on a separate plaque that will be maintained by the Space NSCFL to honor the recipients of all previous awards.  Each year the Space NSCFL will request nominations through public announcements, it’s web site, and letters to senior commanders of major DoD installations in Florida.  Nominations may be accepted from any person within a DoD or DoD contractor organization in Florida.  The Space NSCFL reserves the right to validate facts from senior officials.    

DOD Award on Display in Tallahassee Capitol Bldg Fl 22

Nomination and Selection Guidelines

1. The nominee must have been on active duty as officer or enlisted member of the United States Armed Forces, or as an active duty government civil servant or contractor performing work for the Department of Defense.
2. The accomplishments cited in the nomination must have significantly contributed to the success of our nation’s defense in a space-related area.
3. The accomplishments cited in the nomination must have been accomplished while the individual’s permanent duty station was in the State of Florida.

Submit a written nomination for the National Defense Space Award to either:
The National Space Club Florida
PO Box 21243
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32815-0243

or info@nscfl.org

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Past Award Recipients