- NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (2006)
- NASA Space Flight Medal (2002)
- Patents awarded (1997, 1998)
- Group Achievement Award for Shuttle-Mir Program (1996)
- American Astronautical Society Randolph Lovelace II Award (1995)
- NASA Tech Brief Award (1995)
- NASA Space Act Board Award (1995, 1998)
- NASA Silver Snoopy Award (1995)
- NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1995, 2003, 2006)
- NASA Space Act Award for Patent Application
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- NASA Certificate of Commendation (1994)
- NASA Sustained Superior Performance Award (1990)
- Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" (Russia, 12 April 2011) - for outstanding contribution to the development of international cooperation in manned space flight
- Krug International Merit Award (1989)
- NASA-JSC National Research Council Resident Research Associate (1986–1988)
- Robert A. Welch Postdoctoral Fellowship (1985–1986)
- Robert A. Welch Predoctoral Fellowship (1982–1985)
- Summa Cum Laude from Iowa Wesleyan College (1981)
- President's Honor Roll (1978–81)
- Orange van Calhoun Scholarship (1980)
- State of Iowa Scholar (1979)
- Academic Excellence Award (1978)
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