John O’Neill Receives NASA Exceptional Service Award
USRA Senior Technical Advisor John O’Neill received the NASA Exceptional Service Award during the NASA Honor Awards Ceremony on June 19, 2008. Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats and Deputy Director Ellen Ochoa presented Mr. O’Neill with the award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Program/Project Management Development Program.
At the time of his retirement from NASA in 1998, Mr. O’Neill held the position of Director of Space Operations, where he was responsible for Agency-wide space operations support and related facilities systems including worldwide space networks, mission and network control facilities, operations data processing and planning systems, and telecommunications systems. His 40 year career with NASA includes operations planning and development for the Gemini Program, management of the flight planning and onboard data processes for the Apollo and Skylab programs, mission planning and implementation of systems requirements for the Space Shuttle Program, and 17 years in the Mission Operations Directorate. Before serving as the Director of Space Operations, Mr. O’Neill held the position of Director of the Mission Operations Directorate.
Currently, as USRA’s Senior Technical Advisor, Mr. O’Neill advises and contributes to the development of the Program/Project Management Development Program (PPMD). PPMD prepares NASA’s future Program and Project Managers for the development and implementation of future space programs through a series of training courses and individualized mentoring plans. PPMD, in its inaugural year, has gained Agency-wide notoriety as an exemplary training program for NASA Program and Project Managers.
In addition to recognition for his work on PPMD, Mr. O’Neill’s outstanding accomplishments and contributions to NASA have afforded him numerous awards over the course of his career, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
Mr. O’Neill lives in League City, TX with his wife Mary of 52 years. They have 4 grown children and 13 grandchildren.