[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXTENDING CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RETIRING DIRECTOR OF THE JOHN F. 
                 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, JAMES W. KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2007

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to extend 
congratulations to the retiring Director of the John F. Kennedy Space 
Center, James W. Kennedy, for his vast contributions to our Nation's 
space program. Jim's long and successful career has ensured that 
America's leadership in space exploration will continue well into the 
future.
  Jim Kennedy was raised in my congressional district, on the Space 
Coast of Florida. In fact, he was in the first graduating class at 
Cocoa Beach High School. After graduation, he began his distinguished 
career with NASA in 1968 in the Aerospace Engineering Cooperative 
Education Program at Kennedy Space Center. He joined Marshall Space 
Flight Center in 1980 as an engineer in the Shuttle Projects Office, 
and in 1987, was named manager of the Shuttle Program Planning and 
Management Systems Office. Following that, he served as the manager of 
the Solid Rocket Booster Project Office.
  Jim served as the Deputy Director of Marshall's Science and 
Engineering Directorate and was later named Director of the center's 
Engineering Directorate. In 2001, he was selected to serve as Deputy 
Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center, and just two years later, 
he returned to Florida and was named the Deputy Director of the Kennedy 
Space Center. In 2003, he became the eighth Director of the Kennedy 
Space Center.
  Jim has received numerous awards during his illustrious career in our 
Nation's Space Program, including the National Space Club's 
Astronautics Engineer of the Year Award, the Marshall Space Flight 
Center Leadership Award, the Astronaut's own Silver Snoopy Award, 
NASA's Distinguished Service Medal, the Presidential Rank Meritorious 
and Distinguished Service Awards, and the NASA Outstanding Leadership 
Medal. Most recently, he received the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award from the 
National Space Club's Florida Committee.
  Jim oversaw the critical job of ensuring a safe ``Return to Flight'' 
of the Shuttle Program as well as the resumption of International Space 
Station construction. I watched with pride last July 4th as Jim's team 
at Kennedy Space Center performed a successful launch of Space Shuttle 
Discovery. This particular launch was a fitting tribute to Kennedy 
Space Center and a wonderful cap to Jim Kennedy's career, as it proved 
that both our nation's Space Shuttle Program and the International 
Space Station Program were once again on firm footing. Jim Kennedy's 
leadership, and the fine professionals at KSC, gave our country renewed 
confidence that the goals of our Space Program would be realized. 
Because of the leadership and hard work of Jim Kennedy, America's 
premier space launch center proved that it is up to the task. Jim 
Kennedy's leadership has helped ensure our Space Program is on track 
for completion of the remaining Shuttle missions and continue the 
Manned Space Program which will include the return of Americans to the 
surface of the Moon, then Mars and beyond.
  I should also mention that, as with most successful leaders, Jim 
Kennedy was supported in his NASA career by a devoted family that 
includes his wife, Bernadette, as well as his two grown children, Jeff 
and Jamie. I would like to extend our country's appreciation for the 
sacrifices they made during Jim's years with our Nation's space 
program.
  Much of Jim Kennedy's career was devoted to launching mankind's most 
sophisticated and complex inventions. The Space Shuttles are truly the 
jewels of American technological prowess. Each successful launch 
overseen by Jim Kennedy lifted the spirits of all Americans and 
underlined our identity as the world's leading space faring Nation. As 
a representative from the Space Coast, I share deeply in this sense of 
pride in the promise of Kennedy Space Center and NASA and in Jim 
Kennedy's devoted service to our Nation.

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