Richard Franzl, a senior software engineer with the Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions (IS&GS) Civil Test Operations Contract Group, received the prestigious Silver Snoopy award during a special June 24 ceremony at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Franzl earned his M.S. in Network Communications in 2007 after completing his B.S. in Computer in Engineering Technology from the University of Houston in 2003. Franzl credits his College of Technology faculty mentors for their guidance. "I am grateful for Dr. Deniz Gurkan who helped me through my thesis work, and Dr. Bernard McIntyre, my undergraduate mentor. Their outstanding support were instrumental in my ability to win this award", said Franzl.
The Silver Snoopy is the astronauts' personal award and is presented to less than one percent of the total NASA workforce annually. A member of the astronaut corps representing its core principles for outstanding flight safety and mission success presents the award.
Astronauts Ricky Arnold and Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger presented the award to Franzl - a Silver Snoopy lapel pin flown on Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-134 in May 2011, along with a letter of commendation and certificate signed by Arnold and Metcalf-Lindenburger. Franzl's dedication and exceptional engineering support contributed significantly to the successful completion of Phase I of the NASA Data Acquisition System (NDAS) for collecting rocket engine test information. Due to his efforts, the project remained on track and the NDAS team successfully completed and operated the system during multiple J-2X engine tests on the A-2 Test Stand at the Stennis Space Center.
"Richard's achievement makes us especially proud," said Dr. Deniz Gurkan, associate professor of engineering technology. "We are pleased to see our graduates recognized for their professionalism, technology expertise and commitment to the success of critical programs like the one at NASA."