Former NASA Official, Astronaut Bob Cabana Receives Top Civilian Award
January 13, 2025
Former NASA official and astronaut Robert “Bob” Cabana has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The medal was presented to Cabana by President Joseph R. Biden at a White House ceremony on January 13, 2025.
Cabana, 70, is a veteran of four space shuttle missions, including two as commander. He also served as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, from 2007 to 2012.
In a statement, President Biden praised Cabana for his “extraordinary contributions to the United States space program.”
“Bob Cabana is a pioneer who has dedicated his life to exploring the heavens and inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers,” Biden said. “He is a true American hero, and I am honored to present him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
Cabana was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1954. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1977 and earned a master’s degree in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983.
Cabana was selected as an astronaut in 1985. He flew his first space shuttle mission in 1990 and commanded his first mission in 1994. He also served as a mission specialist on the STS-104 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope in 2001.
After leaving NASA, Cabana worked as a consultant and served on several advisory boards. He is currently a professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin.
Cabana is married to Pam Smith, a former NASA astronaut. They have two children.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the security or interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
Cabana is one of six individuals who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden on January 13, 2025. The other recipients are:
- Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a virologist who helped develop the COVID-19 vaccine
- Sister Simone Campbell, a nun who has dedicated her life to fighting poverty and injustice
- Denzel Washington, an actor, director, and producer
- Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. It has been awarded to more than 600 individuals over the years.
Former NASA Official, Astronaut Bob Cabana Receives Top Civilian Award
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