ASRC Aerospace Employee Wins
the 2009 Debus Award

John R. (Dick) Lyon, Vice President of Florida Operations and Program Manager of the University-Affiliated Spaceport Technology Development Contract (USTDC), Wins the 2009 Debus Award

March 5, 2009 – Greenbelt, MD –John R. (Dick) Lyon, vice president of Florida operations and program manager for ASRC Aerospace Corporation, has been selected by the National Space Club Florida Committee to receive its 2009 Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award.

“Dick Lyon was chosen for this award because of his lifetime dedication to our nation’s human space flight program, extraordinary leadership skills, strong ethical and moral commitment, and community services principles,” said John L. Horan, Jr., president of ASRC Aerospace.  “It is fitting that Mr. Lyon, one of Dr. Debus’ most successful protégés, receive the award created in his honor.  Dick’s 50 years of untiring service to our nation’s space program and his unending list of accomplishments and work products make him the obvious choice and one that, I am sure, would have been personally endorsed by Dr. Debus.”

Lyon now directly manages ASRC Aerospace Corporation’s largest and most technically challenging contract, the University-Affiliated Spaceport Technology Development Contract, which has grown from the initial staff of 200 to the current staff of more than 600.  This contract provides virtually all of NASA’s support to design, develop, implement, activate and sustain the Constellation ground processing and launch infrastructure.

The Debus Award was created by the National Space Club Florida Committee to recognize significant achievements and contributions made in Florida to American aerospace efforts. It is named for the Kennedy Space Center's first Director, Dr. Kurt H. Debus.

The award was conceived and first presented in 1990 as an adjunct to the Robert J. Goddard award, given each year by the National Space Club in Washington, D.C. to an individual who stood out in the aerospace field on a national level. The Debus Award focuses on efforts in Florida and includes individuals associated with launch vehicles, spacecraft operations, ground support services, range activities, space education and spaceport research and development.

Contact: CorpCom@asrcfederal.com