Promoting Colorado's Role as a Leader in Space

To honor the astronauts, aerospace executives, government officials, military leaders and others who have contributed most significantly to the development and success of Colorado’s space economy, the Space Foundation has created the Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame. The first honorees were announced in August, and will be recognized at a black tie gala, to be held in Denver on Oct. 7, during World Space Week. The honorees are:

• General James V. Hartinger, USAF (Ret.), for his work as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command, Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and as the first Commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command
• Ronald M. Sega, Ph.D., for his work as a NASA astronaut; Professor and Director, Systems Engineering Programs, Colorado State University; Director of Defense Research & Engineering; and leadership in the U.S. Air Force Reserve (retired Major General)
• Alan Stern, Ph.D., for leading NASA’s New Horizons mission to the Pluto system and the Kuiper Belt, his work as a planetary scientist, space program executive, aerospace consultant and author; named to the Time 100 in 2007 and 2016
• The Honorable Peter B. Teets, for his work on space programs at Martin Marietta; for his leadership as President of Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace, and President of Martin Marietta Space Group; his global industry leadership as President and Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin Corp.; and his service as 13th Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force

The Space Foundation also created the Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame to celebrate the fact that Colorado is a hub for all things space, including:

• ranking first in the U.S. in number of aerospace employees;
• having the nation’s third-largest aerospace economy; and
• serving as the U.S. center for military space.

Colorado is also “home” to the Space Foundation and to more astronauts than any other state in the U.S., with at least 100 NASA astronauts who were born, educated, worked or resided in the state.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper voiced his support of the new Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame. ​

“Colorado is a powerhouse state in aerospace thanks to the many business, government, military and research leaders who have advanced our space capability and inspired our youth for space endeavors,” said Gov. Hickenlooper. “The Space Foundation has been a catalyst to propel our economy, and we are proud that they call Colorado home. Congratulations to the courageous leaders with the Space Foundation’s Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame.”

Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame Gala
Honoring the past, inspiring the future.

Purchase tickets now to attend the first Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, Oct. 7, at Mile High Station in Denver. Proceeds benefit education programs of the Space Foundation. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at the Colorado Space Heroes Hall of Fame website here.

This article is part of Space Watch: September 2016 (Volume: 15, Issue: 9).