EAFB EMPLOYEE RECEIVES SAFETY AWARD FROM NASA.

Byline: Daily News

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - For the second time in three years, an Edwards Air Force Base Air Force Flight Test Center employee has received one of NASA's highest safety awards.

Paul Phillips, an employee of the Flight Test Center's Access to Space Office, accepted the Quality and Safety Achievement Recognition Award for his work on the X-37 and X-38 experimental aircraft test programs. He accepted the award March 7 during NASA's Annual Continual Improvement and Reinvention Conference in Alexandria, Va.

A QASAR safety award also went to NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's director of research engineering, J. Larry Crawford. Crawford is Dryden's first civil-service employee to get a QASAR award.

The award recognizes specific government or contractor employees for significant quality improvements or safety initiatives within NASA products, programs, processes and management activities.

Each of NASA's 10 centers nominates one individual for four award categories. The top are honored annually at the agency level.

Crawford was honored for his advocacy of systems safety in the research engineering division.

``This QASAR award means a lot to me because it was given to me by a community of safety and mission assurance people I worked with many years ago, who are very diligent at keeping us all focused on protecting the lives of our people,'' Crawford said.

Phillips received the award in the non-NASA government category, in recognition of his contributions toward enhancing the quality and flight-safety process of the X-37 and X-38 flight test programs at Edwards.

Phillips, who has worked at Edwards for 23 years, said the award was unexpected but extremely appreciated.

``I was quite surprised when I heard this was a NASA agency award because only one person is chosen from the 10 centers to receive it,'' said Phillips. ``I was very flattered that they picked me.''

Johnny Armstrong, Access to Space Office chief engineer and Phillips' technical adviser, said the award couldn't have gone to a more deserving individual.

``I was very enthusiastic that he was going to be recognized for the great job he has been doing for such a long time,'' said Armstrong.

The Access to Space Office supports NASA by providing technical expertise and serving as the link between the Air Force Flight Test Center and NASA.

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(color) Paul Phillips of Edwards Air Force Base's Flight Test Center received a NASA safety award.