Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian Award

June 22, 2016 -

“The Kentucky Society of Washington is thrilled to recognize the accomplishments of Prof. Hubbard. As a dedicated public servant, Hubbard dreamed beyond the bounds of the earth and is a perfect example for our Henry Clay interns of the impact they can have on our nation and the world through government service.” - Anne Berry, Kentucky Society President

Historical compilation of G. Scott Hubbard for the Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian Award.

My personal remarks:

I am truly honored and delighted to receive this marvelous Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian Award. My sincerest appreciation to the Kentucky Society of Washington, President Anne Berry, and all the rest of the team for the invitation and wonderful arrangements.

A previous speaker noted that we were truly lucky to have so many guests present given their busy schedules. Having lived and worked inside the beltway, I know how many demands these people face.  I can say that having the Senate Majority Leader, the Junior Senator, the Governor and numerous Congressmen present is a testimony to how very special this evening is. If I were still with NASA I would say this is a “target rich environment”!

The Hubbards have been in KY since about 1792 if the family genealogy is correct, so my roots run deep.  Aviation, space, and politics, have been a part of that history. One of my Uncles was a fighter pilot in WWII. Another Uncle worked his way up to become a Vice President in Piedmont Airlines.  My own father, Robert N. – “Bob Hubbard” was a tail gunner in B17s and a flight engineer for PBY rescue planes in WWII. He went on to earn a law degree at UK on the GI Bill. However, my father often said that had he not been a lawyer, he would have been an astronomer but there was no money in it! I guess I have followed that alternate path.

My dad went on to be elected to the KY State Legislature in 1951, served as a Commonwealth Attorney and at the end of his career was a District Judge. So – I learned early about the connection between the political process and accomplishing anything in the public realm.

As you know, this event supports the Henry Clay Internship in Public Policy and I’m certain that many of you in the audience who have received this internship have served as staffers to elected officials. Such staff perform a critical role in our democracy.  If you want to contact a member, first you must speak to staffer.

But as a bit of contrast, let me say a few more words about my role as NASA’s first “Mars Czar” and the experience of working in the Executive Branch.

 As you saw in the video, in 1999, NASA was embarrassed by the loss of two Mars missions. The Administrator of NASA called me from NASA Ames in Silicon Valley to come to Washington and “fix the mess”.  When I accepted this assignment, there were some who told me the problems were unfixable.  But - I persevered and with the help of many people in government, industry and academia, the mission architecture my team and I produced has endured to this day. 

Along the way, I had to convince skeptics in OMB and OSTP, the House Science Authorization Committee, the House Science Appropriations Committee, Senate Authorization, Senate Appropriations and so on.  My job as Mars Czar was a major effort in Washington politics as well as a technical, budgetary and management task.  I find it fitting that this award is named for the Great Compromiser, Henry Clay. As I developed and advocated the new Mars Exploration Program, I didn’t get everything that I thought I wanted, but the final architecture was solid and sufficient to change the humanity’s view of the Red Planet.

 My point is that the right position in the Executive Branch can provide an amazing opportunity to influence programs that have a lasting impact on the Nation and even the world. I’m pleased to say that the Planetary Science Division at NASA HQs just informed me that they would be delighted to host a Henry Clay intern.

 It is my belief that an intern now could see and participate in the Journey to Mars  - sending humans to the Red Planet in the 2030’s.

Please consider that as you develop your career.

Let me close by saying again that I am truly grateful to be honored by the Kentucky Society of Washington as the 2016 recipient of the Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian Award.

Thank you all.