[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 96 (Thursday, June 26, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S8718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR G. STEPHENSON

 Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
outstanding accomplishments and distinguished career of Mr. Arthur G. 
Stephenson upon his retirement as the Director of the NASA Marshall 
Space Flight Center. It has been a privilege for me to get to know Art. 
While retirement announcements are things that we do not like to hear 
when it involves someone who has been as vital to the success of an 
organization as Art has been to Marshall's, I would like to say how 
much I have enjoyed working with Art and his staff during his tenure as 
the Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center.
  As the Director of one of NASA's largest field installations, with 
more than 6,500 civil service and contract employees and an annual 
budget in excess of $2 billion, Art successfully managed a very broad 
range of activities for the U.S. space program. Some of these critical 
NASA initiatives included development of new reusable launch vehicles, 
space shuttle propulsion, advanced space transportation systems, second 
and third generation propulsion technology development programs, 
research in microgravity, and science payload operations aboard the 
International Space Station. He also oversaw the establishment of the 
National Space Science Technology Center, a partnership with 
universities and Federal agencies to conduct cutting-edge research. Art 
also oversaw the planning and establishment of the Propulsion Research 
Laboratory, a world-class laboratory for research into future space 
transportation and propulsion technology. Art has led the Marshall 
Center in numerous successful space shuttle launches in which Marshall 
was responsible for all propulsion elements. Under Art's direction, the 
Marshall Center has completed testing of the truss and pressurized 
modules for the International Space Station, and provided support for 
the construction and operation of the International Space Station, 
including Marshall's Payload Operations Center which controls all the 
science experiments aboard the space station.
  Art brought more than 35 years of experience in the space industry to 
NASA and used it to the great benefit of the Marshall Center and the 
U.S. space program. I could list many additional achievements and 
professional accomplishments, and I believe that success is directly 
attributable to Art's record as an extraordinary leader throughout his 
career.
  Art has been an important and respected member of the Huntsville 
community. I know that I speak for many people in Huntsville and 
everyone in the NASA family when I say that we all thank Art for his 
tireless commitment to NASA and to Marshall. We sincerely hope that he 
and his family will remain part of the Huntsville community for many 
years to come.

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