I recently discovered that long-time NASA spokesman and public affairs official James F. Kukowski passed away last October (2020) in Fairfield Glade, Tenn. He joined the agency in 1967 as a public affairs officer at Goddard Space Flight Center. He had been executive director of the National Association of Rocketry in Washington, DC and had worked in radio there. Jim staffed the news information desks at the Manned Spacecraft Center and the Kennedy Space Center during Apollo. After Apollo 8, he established the automated recording system for the news media to call. It would include the latest mission status, and be updated as necessary 24 hours a day. He also played a key role in the development of NASA Select (now NASA Television), and served as an award-winning producer/director. In 1972, Jim moved to NASA Headquarters in DC and became deputy chief of the audio-visual office for the Office of Manned Spaceflight. He was later a public affairs officer for the Office of Space Science and Applications. When he retired in 1990, Jim was deputy director for the Office of Internal Communications. He was quoted as a NASA spokesman in publications worldwide. He received two NASA Exceptional Service Medals, five Sustained Superior Service Awards and numerous group achievement awards during his 23 years at the agency. I became friends with Jim during the shuttle program, and he was just a terrific guy. Affectionately known as "Kuk" and sporting something of a rumpled demeanor, he was always a reliable source and a smart, engaging, outgoing professional. Jim will be greatly missed by all who knew him and benefited from his kindness and knowledge over the years. |