CHCI TO HONOR NASA ASTRONAUT JOSEPH M. ACABA WITH THE CHAIR’S AWARD AT THE 49TH ANNUAL AWARDS GALA 

Washington, D.C. – August 11, 2026 – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is proud to announce that it will recognize Joseph M. Acaba as the 2026 Chair’s Medallion Award honoree during its annual celebration to honor the nation’s most remarkable Latino leaders in Washington, D.C. 

The Chair’s Medallion Award, chosen by the CHCI Board Chair, is presented each year to individuals who have dedicated their careers to improving the lives of Hispanic Americans. 

“Joseph Acaba’s journey from a Central Florida classroom to the International Space Station is a testament to what’s possible when talent meets determination.” said CHCI Chair Rep. Darren Soto “CHCI is proud to honor a career that has inspired students to reach for the stars, literally. As a Puerto Rican, he has also inspired our 1.3 million Florida Rican diaspora.” 

“Joseph Acaba has spent his career expanding what’s possible for our community,” said Marco A. Davis, CHCI President and CEO, “from logging more than 300 days in space to leading NASA’s next generation of explorers. CHCI is honored to recognize his leadership, contributions to science, and representation in STEM.” 

Joseph M. Acaba is the Associate Director for Mission and Strategy at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. In this role, he leads the center’s alignment with NASA’s strategic plan and human spaceflight priorities, supports the agency’s STEM workforce goals, and advances collaboration with commercial space, academia, and other government partners as NASA continues its exploration beyond low Earth orbit. 

Acaba was selected by NASA for the space program in 2004. The California native has logged a total of 306 days in space across three missions. In 2009, he flew aboard STS-119 on the Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station to deliver the station’s final pair of power-generating solar array wings and a truss element, conducting two spacewalks during the mission. In 2012, Acaba flew aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the space station, where he served as Flight Engineer for Expedition 31/32 during the arrival of the first commercial resupply spacecraft, SpaceX Dragon. He most recently served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 2023 through 2025. 

Sponsorship opportunities for the CHCI Awards Gala are available. Please email development@chci.org for more information.  

Press credentials and interview requests with select honorees, performers, and CHCI leadership may be available upon request by emailing press@chci.org.

ABOUT CHCI The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is the premier Hispanic, nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization in the country, dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders®. CHCI provides leadership, public service, and policy experiences to outstanding Latino/a/e students and young professionals, and convenes Members of Congress, other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community.

Visit CHCI.org and follow us @CHCIDC on social media.

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