Alumni, Awards, General

Alumni Receives the Early Career Achievement Medal

By bagoins

Dr. Tyler Blake Hudson, alumni of the NC State University Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department, has received the Early Career Achievement Medal (ECAM) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to a Government employee for unusual and significant performance during the first 10 years of an individual’s early career. A full description of the award is provided below. 

Dr. Tyler Hudson began graduate school in 2013 under the advisement of Dr. Fuh-Gwo Yuan at N.C. State University and graduated with a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering in May 2014. At this same time, he moved to Hampton Roads, VA, to continue his research at NASA Langley Research Center and the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA). He earned a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering in December 2017. After graduation, he was hired as a Materials Research Engineer in the Advanced Materials and Processing Branch at NASA Langley Research Center. His research has focused on the manufacturing and process monitoring of advanced aerospace composite structures. Dr. Hudson has made significant technical contributions to NASA projects within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) and Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD).

 

Early Career Achievement Medal

This prestigious NASA medal is awarded to any Government employee for unusual and significant performance during the first 10 years of an individual’s early career (i.e., entry-level professional in a scientific, engineering, administrative professional or technical position) in support of the Agency.

Performance is characterized by unusual initiative or a creative achievement that clearly demonstrates a significant contribution in the individual’s discipline area that directly contributes to NASA’s mission and goals. The contribution is significant, in that, for an employee who is at such an early phase of career, the contribution has substantially improved the discipline area.

The criteria also include the following:

  • The achievement yields high-quality results and/or substantial improvements to the discipline.
  • Impact of the employee’s achievement has significant importance relative to the discipline area.
  • The achievement is perceived as outstanding or significant by peers and/or impacted target groups.