[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO DR. DIANE L. EVANS--28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 8, 2019

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and 
sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to 
outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional 
District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Dr. Diane L. 
Evans of La Crescenta, California.
   Dr. Evans has been the Director for Earth Science and Technology 
Directorate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 
(NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the last fifteen years, and 
is the first woman to lead the Earth Science activities at JPL. During 
her tenure, the Directorate has grown substantially in annual funding 
and the number of spaceborne missions in development has increased as 
well.
   Dr. Evans holds a Bachelor's Degree in Geology from Occidental 
College in Los Angeles and both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. degree 
in Geological Sciences from the University of Washington in Seattle. A 
member of many international science teams, Diane has been a principal 
investigator on several research activities sponsored by NASA.
   Diane is responsible for the implementation, development and 
operations of JPL's Earth Science flight experiments and missions. One 
such mission was entitled ``Grace'' and accomplished its main goal of 
measuring the Earth's gravity field and measuring water loss from major 
aquifers and ice loss from Greenland. The Grace mission represents one 
mission whose science results have expended beyond its original 
objectives to include other crucial measurements, thus making key 
contributions to understanding our world. Dr. Evans has been 
instrumental in defining the missions, which often include domestic and 
foreign partnerships.
   Earth Science research at JPL, which is also under Diane's 
direction, include research areas of oceanography, geophysics, climate, 
atmospheric composition and combines a wide spectrum of advanced 
technologies. Dr. Evans has chaired many planning committees for NASA 
and other academic institutions, has authored more than one hundred 
research publications and conference presentations in the areas of 
geologic and radar remote sensing and has presented many courses on 
these topics globally. For her outstanding leadership and 
accomplishments in the development of Earth science missions, Diane has 
received many awards including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal.
   I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-
respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Dr. Diane 
L. Evans.

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