Captain Scott Altman To Receive Marshall Center’s Ethical Leadership Award
Distinguished Astronaut and Naval Aviator to be Honored During April 17 Gala
Leesburg, VA – The Board of Directors of the George C. Marshall International Center has selected Captain Scott Altman, (U.S. Navy, Ret.) a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions, to receive its fifth annual Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership. The award will be presented at the Center’s annual gala on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA.
The George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership is presented to one recipient each year who embodies the principles of selfless service, unwavering integrity and visionary leadership exemplified by General Marshall, who was a Nobel Peace Laureate, Chief of Staff of the Army, Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. Previous recipients of the award were Col. Greg Gadson (U.S. Army, Ret.) in 2022; former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in 2023; CISA Director Jen Easterly in 2024; and Admiral Mike Rogers (U.S. Navy, Ret.) in 2025.
“Scott Altman exemplifies the highest level of service to the nation and ethical leadership in action,” said Marshall Center Chairman Paul Michaels. “His career reflects the very best of the values General Marshall lived by – selfless service, moral courage and an unwavering commitment to the next generation. We are proud to honor him with the George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership.”
“General Marshall set a standard for leadership rooted in service and integrity,” said Captain Altman. “His example reminds us that leadership is ultimately about service to others. I thank the Marshall Center for this honor and for its continued work to advance the values that define General Marshall’s enduring legacy.”
Proceeds from the Marshall Center’s annual gala support the non-profit organization’s activities, including maintaining Dodona Manor – General Marshall’s home in Leesburg – and its growing ethical leadership training program. Five-Star Character: The George C. Marshall Ethical Leadership Conference inspires and develops leaders among high school juniors and seniors. Using examples from Marshall’s long career of service, participants learn and apply these enduring lessons in a modern context. Thanks to donor support, all students attend for free.
A retired Navy captain, Scott “Scooter” Altman is now president of the Space Operating Group for ASRC Federal. Before joining ASRC Federal in 2010, Scott had a distinguished career with NASA and the U.S. Navy. The former astronaut is a veteran of four space flights, logging over 51 days in space and commanding the final two servicing missions of the Hubble Space Telescope. Altman logged more than 7,000 hours in over 40 types of aircraft.
Altman was the recipient of the 2023 WashingtonExec’s Space Exec of the Year. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Order of Lincoln, Illinois’ highest honor for professional achievement and public service. In 2018, he was inducted to the Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center.
An advocate for inspiring the community through his experiences, Altman regularly gives back – from supporting local robotics clubs, to serving as an American Corporate Partners mentor for U.S. servicemen and women, to sitting on the board of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, to regularly donating his time to speak to youth about STEM careers.
Altman earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and holds a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.
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