Please join us in congratulating Matt Devaney, the recipient of the June 2026 Space Weather Office (SWO) Peer Appreciation Award — a well-earned recognition of the value he has delivered to nearly every group within SWFO and across the broader SWGS organization.
Looking back over Matt’s contributions, a clear pattern emerges: wherever there is a challenge to be met or a gap to be filled, Matt steps up. Over the years he has touched just about every corner of the Space Weather Follow On (SWFO) effort, and he continues to bring that same energy and reliability to his work today.
On the SWFO Ground Team
Matt has consistently been ready to step in wherever he was needed. He led development of the PGD schedule, drove the C2 Tech memo and CDRL reviews, and went a step further by completing SAN Operator training and reviewing the SAN SOPs and COPs. Whatever the task, he took ownership and saw it through.
Ground Systems Engineering
At the Ground Systems Engineering level, Matt led recurring meetings with the DOORS team to ensure requirements were properly maintained and that every change was tracked through to completion — the kind of careful, behind-the-scenes work that keeps a complex program on solid footing.
Mission Operations Support Team (MOST)
The Ground team alone couldn’t keep him busy enough. As part of the Mission Operations Support Team, Matt authored the step-by-step Sequence of Events (SOEs) used for End-to-End tests with the spacecraft, and served as a Flight Controller both before and after launch — a role that sits at the heart of safe, successful operations.
Antenna Services & International Partnership
Looking ahead, Matt is a key member of the Antenna Services (AS) Commercial Partner Integration Working Group. He is currently leading the integration of two new antennas being built by the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) for SWFO and IMAP into the existing SWFO Antenna Network.
Helping build this international relationship directly supports a core SWO Strategic Plan objective for space weather continuity: securing contributions from partners that address observation gaps and strengthen our capabilities.
As part of this effort, Matt will be updating the International Partner Antenna Integration Description Document, ensuring that future partners can be brought into the network smoothly and consistently.
Looking Ahead
Matt has demonstrated a consistent ability to take on new challenges and provide meaningful value to every team he joins. As the office looks toward the SOLAR and Vigil missions, we’re excited to see his role continue to grow.
Congratulations, Matt — and thank you for making everyone’s job easier.
Nominated and announced by
Robert Hanni
Ground Systems Engineer (GSE) · Space Weather Ground Services (SWGS), Space Weather Office (SWO) · NASA Goddard Space Flight Center