HR265INTRODUCED
Page 0
HR265
ZQZFJKK-1
By Representatives Whorton, Moore (P), Rigsby, Reynolds, Hall,
Whitt, Lomax
RFD:
First Read: 17-Apr-25
1
2
3
4
5
6 ZQZFJKK-1 04/16/2025 NG (L)NG 2025-1660
Page 1
First Read: 17-Apr-25
HR____ HONORING DR. RAYMOND CLINTON, JR. ON HIS RETIREMENT
FROM NASA'S MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER.
WHEREAS, it is with great respect and admiration that
we recognize Dr. Raymond "Corky" Clinton, Jr. for his
extraordinary career at the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center; he has
dedicated over 40 years to serving America's Space Program;
and
WHEREAS, a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Dr.
Clinton earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral
degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta,
in 1973, 1976, and 1982, respectively; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Clinton joined the Marshall Center in
1984 as an aerospace ceramic materials engineer in the
Materials and Processes Laboratory of the former Science and
Engineering Directorate; and
WHEREAS, from 1998 to 2003, Dr. Clinton cochaired a
NASA team that led the coordination of NASA and U.S.
Department of Defense rocket propulsion materials research;
he formulated and implemented an integrated materials
development plan supporting liquid rocket boost and orbit
transfer engines, solid rocket motors for boost and orbit
transfer, and tactical rocket motors and spacecraft
propulsion system; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 HR265 INTRODUCED
Page 2
propulsion system; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, Dr. Clinton was named special
assistant for research integration and management, he
established integrated research policies for NASA's Physical
Sciences Research Division, which encompassed theoretical
and experimental research in the areas of fluid physics,
combustion, materials, biomolecular physics, chemistry,
nanotechnology, and other technologies tied to human
exploration and development of the space frontier; and
WHEREAS, from 2003 to 2006, Dr. Clinton was manager
of the Microgravity Science and Applications Department,
part of Marshall's former Science Directorate; he was
chiefly responsible for planning, budgeting, and overseeing
research to enable NASA's exploration of space; he led a
team of some 450 researchers, engineers, and support
personnel conducting world-class materials research,
technology development, and hardware design and fabrication,
all supporting research in space and on Earth; during that
period, he also was selected to lead NASA's investigation
into thermal protection system foam loss during liftoff of
space shuttle Discovery on the STS-114 mission in July 2005;
the findings and recommendations of the investigation led to
several significant design and safety improvements to the
thermal protection system of the space shuttle's external
tank; and
WHEREAS, from 2011-2021, Dr. Clinton was the Deputy
Director of the Science and Technology Office where he
managed day-to-day oversight of the organization and its
more than 250 civil service and contract employees; the
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56 HR265 INTRODUCED
Page 3
more than 250 civil service and contract employees; the
office conducts advanced research at the intersection of
science and exploration, expanding general scientific
knowledge and understanding, while furthering NASA's mission
to extend our reach across the solar system; and
WHEREAS, since 2021, Dr. Clinton has been a senior
technical advisor in the Science and Technology Office at
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville with a
primary responsibility over the Moon to Mars Planetary
Autonomous Construction Technology Project; and
WHEREAS, he is the recipient of numerous NASA and
industry awards, which include the Presidential Rank Award
for Meritorious Executive for his outstanding achievements
at NASA; the NASA Silver Snoopy award, presented in 1990 by
the Astronaut Corps for his noteworthy contributions to
NASA's ongoing human spaceflight missions; and NASA's
Outstanding Leadership Medal in 2006 for his leadership of
the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Aging Effects Team and his
contributions to Return to Flight; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That we hereby extend deepest
gratitude and respect to Dr. Raymond "Corky" Clinton, Jr.
for his distinguished career at the National A eronautics and
Space Administration Marshall Space Flight Center and offer
our heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of his
well-earned retirement.
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82