Thomas D. White Space Award

In 1961 the National Geographic Society established an annual award for outstanding contribution to aerospace progress. The award is named in honor of the 4th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, who was a strong advocate of the Air Force being responsible for the space mission and was an unflagging supporter of the Air Force’s space programs.

Famed sculptor Felix W. de Weldon created the Trophy which is located at the US National Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio at the entrance to the Missile and Space Gallery.

In 1978 the award transferred in responsibility from National Geographic to the USAF Chief of Staff.  

In 2020 the USSF became the stewards of this Award presented annually at the Space Force Ball and birthday celebration by the Schriever Chapter of the Air and Space Forces Association.

Previous Thomas D. White Space Award Recipients

2024 – Thomas D Taverney, Maj Gen
USAF retired

2023 – DT Thompson, Gen, USSF
Deputy Chief of Space Operations
Pentagon, Arlington, VA

2022 – Deanna M. Burt, Lt Gen, USSF
Commander, Combined Force Space Component, US Space Command
Vice Commander, Space Operations Command, US Space Force
Vandenberg SFB, CA

2021 – B. Chance Saltzman, Lt Gen, USSF
Deputy Chief of Space Operations, US Space Force
Pentagon, DC

2020 – David Miller, Brig Gen, USAF
Senior Military Assistant to the SecAF
Pentagon, Arlington VA

2019 – Stephen N. Whiting, Maj Gen, USAF
Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Force Space Command
Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command
Vandenberg AFB, CA

2018 – Todd M. Brost, Col, USAF
Commander, National Space Defense Center
Schriever AFB, CA

2017 – Samuel A. Greaves, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center
Los Angeles AFB, CA

2016 – David J. Buck, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Force Space Command
Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command

2015 – John W. Raymond, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Force Space Command
Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space, U.S. Strategic Command
Vandenberg AFB, CA

2014 – John E. Hyten, Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

2013 – No Award

2012 – Ellen M. Pawlikowski, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center
Los Angeles AFB, CA

2011 – Larry D. James, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Forces Strategic
Vandenberg AFB, California

2010 – (Mike) C. Robert (Bob) Kehler, Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

2009 – Stephen (Steve) T. Sargeant, Maj Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
Kirtland AFB, NM

2008 – Susan (Sue) J. Helms, Brig Gen, USAF
45th Space Wing
Patrick AFB, FL

2007 – Michael (Mike) A. Hamel, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center
Los Angeles AFB, CA

2006 – Frank G. Klotz, Lt Gen, USAF
Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

2005 – Hon. Peter (Pete) B. Teets
Undersecretary of the Air Force
Director, National Reconnaissance Office
Pentagon, DC

2004 – Duane W. Deal, Brig Gen, USAF
Commander, 21st Space Wing
Peterson Air Force Base, CO

2003 – Robert K. Sheehan, Maj, USAF
328th Weapons Squadron, USAF Weapons School
Nellis AFB, NV

2002 – Roger D. DeKok, Lt Gen, USAF
Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

2001 – Ralph (Ed) E. Eberhart, Gen
USAFCINCNORAD, CINCSPACE and Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

2000 – Richard B. Myers, Gen, USAF
Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Pentagon, DC

1999 – Lance W. Lord, Lt Gen, USAF
Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

1998 – Howell M. Estes, III, Gen, USAF
CINCNORAD, CINCSPACE and Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

1997 – Patrick (Pat) P. Caruana, Lt Gen, USAF
Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

1996 – No Award
Year this award was transferred from National Geographic Society to the Air Force Association.

1995 – Joseph (Joe) W. Ashy, Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

1994 – Charles (Chuck) A. Horner, Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

1993 – Merrill A. McPeak, Gen, USAF
Chief of Staff, US Air Force
Pentagon, DC

1992 – Nathan (Nate) J. Lindsay, Maj Gen, USAF
Director of the Office of Special Projects, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
Los Angeles AFB, CA

1991 – Thomas (Tom) S. Moorman, Jr., Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO

1990 – John L. Piotrowski, Gen, USAF
CINCNORAD and CINCSPACE
Peterson AFB, CO
and
Lt. Gen. Donald (Don) L. Cromer, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Space Systems Division
Los Angeles AFB, CA

1989 – Launch Systems Directorate
Space Systems Division
Los Angeles AFB, CA

1988 – Dr. Robert (Bart) R. Barthelemy
National AeroSpace Plane (NASP) Joint Program Office
Wright Patterson AFB, OH

1987 – Victor (Vic) W. Whitehead, Col, USAF
Program Director, Titan IV
Space Division
Los Angeles AFB, CA
Restoring launch capacity after Challenger disaster and Titan 34D launch failures.

1986 – Donald (Don) J. Kutyna, Lt Gen, USAF
Director, Space Systems & Command, Control, Communications, DCS Research and Development
Pentagon, DC
Advocacy before Congress “for space programs vital to the maintenance of national security”

1985 – Donald (Don) W. Henderson, Maj Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Space and Missile Test Organization
Vandenberg AFB, CA
Launch Operations

1984 – Forrest S. McCartney, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Space Division
Los Angeles AFB, CA
DoD manager for Space Shuttle Operations

1983 – James (Jim) V. Hartinger, Gen, USAF
CINCNORAD and Commander, Air Force Space Command
Peterson AFB, CO
Strengthening national security through space operations

1982 – Richard (Dick) C. Henry, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Space Division
Los Angeles AFB, CA
Military use of payload specialists on shuttle; established Air Force Space Command

1981 – Col. Joe H. Engle, Col, USAF and Richard (Dick) H. Truly, CAPT, USN.
Astronauts
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
Second flight of orbiter Columbia

1980 – Lew Allen, Jr., Gen, USAF
Chief of Staff, US Air Force
Pentagon, DC
Operational military space support

1979 – John (Jack) E. Kulpa, Jr., Maj Gen, USAF
Director of the Office of Special Projects
Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
Los Angeles AFB, CA

1978 – No Award Given

1977 – Fred W. Haise, Jr. and Charles (Gordon) G. Fullerton, Lt Col, USAF
Astronauts
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
First test flight of space shuttle Enterprise.

1976 – William J. Evans, Gen, USAF
Commander, Air Force Systems Command
Andrews AFB, MD
Development of space systems

1975 – Thomas P. Stafford, Brig Gen, USAF
Astronaut
Commander, Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX

1974 – William (Bill) R. Pogue, Col, USAF
Astronaut
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
Third manned Skylab mission, successful repairs.

1973 – Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., Lt Col, USAF
Astronaut
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
Skylabs 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Parasol device for Skylab 1.

1972 – Hon. Robert C. Seamans, Jr.
Secretary of the Air Force
Pentagon, DC
Aeronautical and astronautical planning.

1971 – Samuel C. Phillips, Lt Gen, USAF
Commander, Space and Missile Systems Organization
Los Angeles AFB, CA
Extraordinary and decisive leadership of Air Force aeronautical and astronautical programs.

1970 – Robert A. Duffy, Brig Gen, USAF
Program Director, Advanced Ballistic Missile Reentry System (ABRES)
Space and Missile Systems Organization
Los Angeles AFB, CA

1969 – Apollo 11 Crew
Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Col, USAF, and Michael (Mike) Collins, Col, USAF
Astronauts
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
Apollo 11 lunar landing

1968 – Apollo 8 Crew
Frank Borman, Col, USAF, William A. Anders, Lt Col, USAF, and James A. Lovell, Jr., CAPT, USN. 
Astronauts
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
First manned moon orbit flight – eight orbits.

1967 – John P. McConnell, Gen, USAF
Chief of Staff, US Air Force
Pentagon, DC
Promotion of use of aerospace vehicles.

1966 – Hon. Dr. Alexander H. Flax
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Research and Development
Pentagon, DC
Direction of R&D programs

1965 – Edward (Ed) H. White II, Lt Col, USAF
Astronaut
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
First US walk in space, Gemini 4.

1964 – Air Force Systems Command
Andrews AFB, MD
Reliable space-launch vehicles

1963 – Leroy (Gordon) G. Cooper, Maj, USAF
Astronaut
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
Twenty-two Earth orbits in Mercury spacecraft Faith 7.

1962 – Robert (Bob) M. White, Maj, USAF
Test Pilot
Air Force Flight Test Center
Edwards AFB, CA
X-15 flight to 59.6 miles., cresting over 99% of earth’s atmosphere

1961 – Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom, Capt, USAF
Astronaut
NASA Johnson Spaceflight Center
Houston, TX
Mercury spacecraft Liberty Bell 7 15-minute sub-orbital flight