A Montevallo native has earned a prestigious award for his work at NASA&8217;s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Last month, Robert M. Lightfoot Jr., manager of the Space Shuttle Propulsion Office, was awarded the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives. The honor is the highest given for federal government work.

The Presidential Rank Award is given annually to a select group of senior federal employees. Winners are chosen for their outstanding leadership and service in some of America&8217;s most important jobs. A board of private citizens refers finalists to the President for approval.

&8220;I am honored to receive the award, one I share with NASA&8217;s entire space shuttle community,&8221; said Lightfoot. &8220;This award recognizes all the work done by the entire NASA team.&8221;

Lightfoot started his career with NASA in 1989 as a test engineer and program manager. Since then, he has held various positions with the agency, until his appointment as propulsion office manager in November 2005.

At NASA, Lightfoot is responsible for everything that makes the shuttle airborne, including engines, tanks and rocket boosters.

Lightfoot grew up in Montevallo and his family still lives there. He is the son of former councilman Robert M. Lightfoot and his wife, Gene. He earned a bachelor degree from the University of Alabama in 1986.

Lightfoot and his wife, the former Caroline Smith of Huntsville, and their two children, Kelsey and Haley, now live in Huntsville