FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
NESA Pittsburgh – Laurel Highlands Council
secretary@nesa-pgh.org
Nov. 26th, 2025

Ronald N. Herring Jr. Receives Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

PITTSBURGH, PA – The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Pittsburgh Chapter and the Laurel Highlands Council are proud to announce that Ronald N. Herring Jr. has been the recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA)— the most prestigious of honors granted by Scouting America, formally, the Boy Scouts of America. Herring was formally recognized at the 2024 Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner held at Acrisure Stadium on November 26, 2024.

The DESA is awarded to Eagle Scouts who have achieved extraordinary success in their professional lives and demonstrated significant voluntary service to their communities, at least 25 years after earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Fewer than 2,000 individuals have ever received this national distinction.

A Legacy of Leadership, Innovation, and Service

Ron Herring earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1977 with Troop 86 in Marlboro, NJ (Monmouth County Council), where he was also a member of the Order of the Arrow. He earned his Arrow of Light in Pack 155. 

Ron earned a BS degree with a marketing concentration from Montclair State University in 1983. After graduation, Ron went to work for Mine Safety Appliances Company [now MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA)J where he spent his entire career (nearly 35 years). Starting as a sales trainee, Ron advanced rapidly, earning his MBA from Rider University and setting a corporate sales record for 9 consecutive years. Ron earned his MBA from Rider University in 1988.

He has embodied the values of Scouting throughout an exceptional 35-year career with MSA Safety Inc., the global leader in the development and manufacture of industrial health and safety equipment. MSA manufactures over 4000 different personal safety products, including self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) used by firefighters, head protection products like fire helmets and hard hats, portable and fixed gas detection instruments, as well as thermal imaging cameras and fall protection equipment. MSA is the world's largest company dedicated solely to making safety equipment that protects first responders and people in the workplace. 

His ability to build and lead teams made him a standout in product development and innovation, eventually rising to become Vice President, Global Product Leadership, and President of MSA's International Operations.

Among Ron’s most significant professional contributions:

• 9/11 Emergency Response: As Director of Marketing, Herring spearheaded MSA’s rapid response to the 9/11 attacks, coordinating the delivery of critical protective gear to Ground Zero and working with OSHA and local unions to establish a safety training facility adjacent to the World Trade Center site.

• Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH): Under his leadership, MSA scaled production of the ACH for the U.S. Army, credited with saving lives during the Iraq War and earning the Army’s “Best Product of the Year” award.

• Life-Saving Product Innovations: Herring oversaw the development of the Altair multi-gas detector, Evolution thermal imaging camera, and the G1 SCBA with integrated thermal imaging—all of which have saved countless lives of workers and first responders.

• Chilean Mine Rescue: MSA’s V-Gard hard hats, globally promoted under Herring’s guidance, gained iconic status during the 2010 rescue of 33 Chilean miners—two of which now reside in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection.

Professional Legacy Continued

In 1992, Ron moved to Pittsburgh to become MSA's Nuclear Industry Specialist and Product Line Manager for supplied-air respirators. Ron advanced from Product Line Manager (1992-95) to Product Group Manger (1996-99) and then to Director of Marketing at MSA's Safety Products Division (2000-03). His ability to foster teamwork among the various parts of the MSA organization set Ron apart from others and showcased his abilities as an Eagle scout. As MSA's Director of Marketing, Ron led MSA's response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Within 24 hours of the planes hitting the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, Ron and his marketing team arranged for the shipment of 3 trailer truck loads of MSA personal safety products to be on their way from the Murrysville manufacturing facility in Pittsburgh to ground zero In New York City, as well as the Pentagon in Washington DC. These safety products included hard hats, respirators, and safety glasses. Many of the workers in the iconic 9-11 photo of President Bush at ground zero are wearing MSA's donated personal safety products (see attached picture). The firefighter to the right of President Bush is wearing an MSA cairns fire helmet and has an MSA Advantage Respirator around his neck. The firefighter on the left is holding an MSA V-Gard hard hat and a pair of MSA Safety glasses.

During his tenure as General Manager of MSA’s Safety Products Division, Ron Herring led the production of the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) for the U.S. Army, a life-saving innovation widely credited with protecting American soldiers in combat. Under his leadership, MSA scaled from producing 13,000 helmets in 2003 to over 400,000 by 2005, helping the ACH become the Army’s standard combat helmet.

Promoted to Vice President of Innovation and later Global Product Leadership, Ron oversaw MSA’s R&D and marketing teams worldwide. His leadership drove innovations like the Altair multi-gas detector, XCell sensors, and the Evolution thermal imaging camera, tools that have directly saved lives in industries ranging from firefighting to oil and gas. He also initiated development of the G1 SCBA, a breakthrough breathing apparatus for firefighters with integrated thermal imaging—now the top-selling SCBA in the U.S.

One of Ron’s proudest moments was helping launch MSA’s global brand presence. He transformed the iconic V-Gard hard hat into an internationally recognized safety symbol. The V-Gard gained worldwide recognition in 2010 when all 33 rescued Chilean miners emerged wearing them—two of which are now in the Smithsonian Museum.

Under Ron’s product leadership, MSA achieved a milestone where over 30% of annual revenue stemmed from products launched within the prior three years, earning the 2007 Outstanding Corporate Innovator Award.

In 2011, Ron was named President of MSA Europe and led the sweeping Europe 2.0 initiative, unifying 14 European divisions under one management structure. This transformation significantly improved profitability and led to his appointment as President of MSA International, where he oversaw operations across Europe, the Middle East, India, Russia, and the Caspian Region.

In his final years with MSA, Ron directed a global team of 2,000 employees, delivering strong performance across revenue, profitability, and working capital. Though considered for the role of CEO, Ron chose to retire in 2018 after 35 years of transformational leadership, leaving behind a powerful legacy of innovation, service, and global impact.

Commitment to Scouting and Community

In Scouting, Ron has served as Cubmaster, Webelos Leader, Troop Committee Member, merit badge counselor, and mentor to many Eagle Scouts—including his two sons. He chaired the NESA Pittsburgh Chapter from 2019–2022 and continues to serve Scouting in leadership and development roles. He received the Silver Beaver Award in 2021 and the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award in 2018.

Outside of Scouting, Ron continues to shape his community through service on the boards of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business, and various corporate and civic advisory groups.

About the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

Established in 1969, the DESA recognizes Eagle Scouts who have achieved distinction in their careers and public service. Nominees must be Eagle Scouts for at least 25 years and are reviewed by a national committee of fellow DESA recipients.

Ron Herring joins a distinguished group whose careers and character exemplify the highest ideals of Scouting.

Media Contact:
secretary@nesa-pgh.org
Visit: https://nesa-pgh.org/blog for more on Ron Herring and other award recipients.