Adam Kissiah, Jr.
Adam Kissiah was born and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and graduated from Oakhurst High School (Charlotte) in May, 1947. After one year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Adam joined the U.S. NAVY in July, 1949 and remained until March, 1953 (Korean War, honorably discharged).
After discharge from the Navy, Adam Kissiah returned to school at Charlotte College, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC (BS-PHYSICS, 1956)
In September, 1956, Adam was employed by RCA Service Co. and Pan American World Airways at Patrick AFB/Cape Canaveral (Missile Test Division)as Electronic Tracking Systems Engineer supporting Redstone, Jupiter, Mercury, Pershing, and Minuteman rocket Programs) until April, 1963.
In April, 1963, Adam was employed by the national aeronautics and space administration (NASA), at Kennedy Space Center, FL. He was assigned duties as launch instrumentation systems engineer. He served in various capacities to section chief, staff engineer, and as contract technical manager/representative in launch instrumentation and data systems operation and management. Supported gemini, apollo, apollo skylab, apollo-soyuz test project (ASTP), and shuttle programs through November, 1989.
Note: during employment with NASA, Adam applied for patent through NASA/KSC patent counsel (Hames O. Harrell) for patent of electronic digital hearing aid. Patent (4,063,048, awarded dec 13,1977, re-issued(#31,031)Sept 14, 1982. The patent is considered the first patentable design for digital electronics stimulation of the acoustic nerve in humans. Patent design specifications are currently being used in human implantation for hearing restoration in profoundly deaf patients throughout the U.S., and many other countries around the world.
Adam retired from NASA - Dec 02, 1989
Adam is a senior and life member of the institute of electrical and electronic engineers (IEEE), canaveral section, Florida, and also a member of the American Legion, former member of the Board of Directors of the Central Brevard YMCA, and is a current member of the Board of Directors of the World Ability Federation, Chicago, IL.
Awards: April, 2002 - IEEE-USA electrotechnology transfer award for contributions in the fields of aerospace instrumentation, including developing principles of the cochlear implant device.
Awards: April, 2002 - IEEE-USA electrotechnology transfer award for contributions in the fields of aerospace instrumentation, including developing principles of the cochlear implant device.
October, 2002, awarded NASA's space act award for the cochlear implant invention.
April, 2003, inducted into the space foundation's aerospace technology hall of fame.
Adam Kissiah currently lives in Merritt Island, Florida.