Ronald F. Kiessling became involved in his profession because of his dedication to the United States Marine Corps, for whom he served from 1951 to 1954 as a sergeant. From 1954 to 1963, he then served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve as Battalion Communications Chief at the rank of S/Sergeant. Attaining the highest rating and an education in electronic school that allowed his career to grow, he was employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the entirety of his career, having first been hired as an instrument maker in 1954 and head of the advanced systems/spacecraft testing section of the Lewis Research Center from 1974 to 1980. Soon thereafter, he was promoted to chief of communications in the Energy and Flight Hardware Branch of the Lewis Research Center for the following two years, as well as chief of the Materials and Engine Components Branch at the Lewis Research Center for an additional three years. From 1985 to 1986, Mr. Kiessling served the Lewis Research Center at NASA as deputy chief of space technology operations, having thereafter held the role of deputy chief of the Logistics Management Division from 1986 to 1989.
Alongside his primary endeavors, Mr. Kiessling has been an active leader in his community. A past president of the board of trustees and trustee of the Ohio Pythian Home, he also served the Congregation All Saints Lutheran Church as president. In previous years, he sat on the advisory committee on electronic technology and the senior
volunteer program at the University of Akron from 1973 to 1989. In addition, he is a longtime member of the Knights of Pythias, who named him a chancellor in command, grand chancellor, Knight of the Golden Spur, and deputy supreme chancellor. Likewise, he is a former president of the NASA Supervisors Club and a department commandant of the Marine Corps League. In addition, Mr. Kiessling has maintained membership with the American Legion Post 421 and the Association for Quality and Participation.
Accruing multiple accolades throughout the course of his career, Mr. Kiessling intends to be working and volunteering at his local church five years into the future. He also plans to contribute his time and expertise to the local VA hospital and the Great Lakes Science Center, where he has been giving presentations on the history of the Apollo capsule.
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