At last night's Pittsburgh NESA Membership Meeting & Social, it was announced that Ron Herring is to receive the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award at this year's Laurel Highlands Council Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner on November 26th at Acrisure Stadium. This award ceremony will be a rare and special event this is a National level award.
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is NESA's highest honor. It is the most prestigious Eagle Scout related award, having only been awarded to just over 2,000 since it was established in 1969. It is awarded to an Eagle Scout who has achieved extraordinary national-level recognition, fame, or eminence within their profession and/or service to the nation and has a strong record of voluntary service to their community. Stringent criteria begin with a minimum of 25 years “Time in Service” from the official record date an Eagle rank was earned. That requirement was determined by the average time most nominees need to establish a career, earn peer recognition, awards, fame/eminence, and other factors that are considered for DESA selection.
This award is presented on a National level, not at a local Council or NESA Chapter level, however, nominations for the DESA Award can be made at the local level. A committee comprised of Distinguished Eagle Scouts carefully reviews all nominations and determines selections. When time permits, the committee may provide feedback on nominations that may receive further, future consideration.
Ron Herring spent his entire career at Mine Safety Appliances Company (now MSA-The Safety Company). He started in 1983 as a sales rep in New Jersey in MSA's Safety Products Division and worked his way up to being its Vice-President, General Manager. When the Safety Products Division was combined with MSA’s Instrument Division, Ron was promoted to Vice-President, Global Product Leadership where he served for 5 years as MSA’s Chief Technology and Chief Marketing Officer. Ron then moved to Europe to become President of MSA’s International operations in Europe, the Middle East, India, Russia and the Caspian Region, and after 4 years, he became Senior Vice-President, and President of all of MSA’s International operations outside of North and South America. In 2016 Ron moved back to the Pittsburgh area and retired from MSA in October, 2017 after over 34 years with the company.
Ron Herring became an Eagle Scout in 1977 as a member of Troop 86 (Chingarora District) in Marlboro, NJ (Monmouth County Council) after having earned his Arrow of Light in P155. He attended Philmont Scout Ranch as a youth and was a member of the Order of the Arrow. In 1998 Ron became the Cubmaster of P161 for 2 years in the Greater Pittsburgh Council. After that, he was a committee member of P161 for 2 years and then the Webelos Den Leader for another 2 years. When his two sons joined T17 he ran the citizenship merit badges for the troop, was involved in the venture crew, and served as an Eagle Scout sponsor for several boys. In 2004-05, he served as the Community FOS chair for 2 years in the Japeechen District. He also served on the Board of the Greater Pittsburgh Council for a year in 2010-11 before he moved to Berlin. His sons Robert and James are both Eagle Scouts.