NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image above: Ronald Krueger is a senior research scientist in the Research and Technology Directorate. Credit: NASA/Sean Smith

Ten years ago, Ronald Krueger came to NASA Langley after being a graduate researcher at the University of Stuttgart, in Stuttgart, Germany. Krueger is a National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) senior research scientist at NASA Langley. "I develop durability and damage tolerance analyses for composite structures using finite element analysis and fracture mechanics," Krueger said.

"As a kid I wanted to be a pilot. When I took my driving test I realized that I needed glasses. You needed 20-20 vision at the time to qualify for the German Air Force or any airline to be accepted for training. So I studied aerospace engineering instead," said Krueger. He went to explain, "I graduated from Stuttgart in 1989, received my doctorate in 1996 and came here in March 1997 as a National Research Council (NRC) resident research associate. I transitioned to the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering (ICASE) in 2000 as a staff scientist and joined NIA as senior research scientist in January 2003 after ICASE shut down."

Despite Krueger's transitions, he has remained at the same desk and in the same office for the duration of his 10 years at NASA Langley.

Krueger's favorite aspect of working at NASA Langley is "doing leading edge research with the best researchers in the field world-wide, who also happen to be great people."

The Apollo-Saturn moon rocket motivated Krueger to become an aerospace engineer and to work at NASA Langley. Krueger feels that it is one of the world's greatest inventions, but he also admits that he is a "little biased."

One of Krueger's fondest memories is "seeing and feeling a Shuttle launch live at the Cape amidst a crowd of cheering people. The earth shakes and the air around you vibrates and everyone claps and shouts! You will never get that sensation on TV."

Krueger came to this country from Germany 10 years ago and became a U.S. Citizen a year ago. He has been working at NASA Langley since he arrived in the U.S. at the age of 38.

Kruger loves to travel when he is not working. "...by car, by train, by plane or just exploring a great city by walking," Krueger said.

Krueger is a senior member of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee where he currently serves as co-chair for a sub-committee on Research and Mechanics. He is also an active member of the American Society for Composites (ASC).

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Denise Adams
The Researcher News