N. Ronald (Ron) Merski

N. Ronald (Ron) Merski joined the NASA Langley Research Center in 1990, serving in the Experimental Hypersonics Branch, which ultimately merged with the Aerothermodynamics Branch currently in the Research Directorate.  There he was an aerothermodynamics experimentalist for 14 years.  During that time, Ron completed his doctoral research focused on obtaining quantitative global aeroheating measurements on wind tunnel models in hypersonic wind tunnels using phosphor thermography; and supported numerous entry vehicle programs including HL-20, Genesis, X-33, X-34, X-37, X-38, and Shuttle Orbiter.  He then served 9 years as Branch Head for the Aerothermodynamics Branch in the Research Directorate and the last 11 years as Branch Head for the Atmospheric Flight and Entry Systems Branch in the Engineering Directorate.  In addition to his branch management responsibilities, since 2019 he has led the center’s Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) Foundational Capability Area, which coordinates EDL activities across the center.     

Ron has B.S., M.S. and D.Sc. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, the Ohio State University, and the George Washington University, respectively.  He is the recipient of two NASA Outstanding Leadership Medals, the Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, and NASA Langley’s H.J.E. Reid Award.  He is also an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.