James (Jim) F. Berry, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, was recently awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, NASA's highest honor. NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin presented Berry with the medal at a ceremony at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001128/DATU058 )

The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is granted "only to those individuals whose distinguished accomplishments contributed substantially to the NASA mission," according to Goldin. Past recipients include journalist Walter Cronkite, actor Tom Hanks, authors Arthur C. Clarke and James A. Michener, and several members of Congress.

"This is a great honor," Berry said. "I consider the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to be one of the most meaningful highlights of my career thus far."

Berry's contributions to man's exploration of space stretch back more than 25 years. He served as a key Rockwell manager of final assembly for Apollo spacecraft for missions 11 through 17 in the late 1960s. From 1971 until 1975, Berry served as Director of Manufacturing for the four Command and Service Modules used in the Skylab program and the Apollo-Soyuz test project. From 1975 until 1986, he was associated with the Space Shuttle program, last serving as the Division Director, Production Operations for Rockwell's Space Division. In his current assignment as President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Berry has overseen the building of the heat rejection and photovoltaic radiator systems for the International Space Station.

"You are highly deserving of this medal for your distinguished service and extraordinary leadership in the human exploration of space," Goldin remarked. "July 2000 marked the 25th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz test project, and your leadership in the role of Project Manager of the Command and Service Module was paramount to its success."

Jim Berry's 30+ year career has been predominately spent in the U.S. Aerospace industry. His experience represents a broad exposure to all facets of the business. This breadth of experience prepared him for a career profile of responsibility and authority in increasingly significant management assignments over the past three decades. Berry's career boasts numerous achievements for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Jim Berry joined Lockheed Martin Corporation in October 1994 as Vice President, Technology and Chief Operating Officer for the Electronics Sector. The Corporation promoted Mr. Berry to President of its Vought Systems division in Dallas on August 1, 1997. On July 8, 1999, he was promoted to President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, a combination of the Vought Systems business with the former Electronics & Missiles business in Orlando, Florida. Missiles and Fire Control has now grown to represent 10 major plants employing close to 9,000 employees in six states.

Located in Dallas, Orlando, Florida, and Sunnyvale, Calif., Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control develops, manufactures and supports advanced combat, missile, rocket and space systems. The company is organized in seven program/mission areas: Strike Weapons, Air Defense, Anti-Armor, Naval Munitions, Fire Control and Sensors, Fire Support and Product Development.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics, and technology services.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation , visit our Web site: www.lockheedmartin.com

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas