Distinguished Engineer
Hometown: Groton
Mechanical Engineering ,
Ronald Mielke was commissioned as a 2nd Ld. in the U.S. Army through the Army ROTC program upon graduation from South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University in 1965. After serving three years in the Corps of Engineers, including a year tour in Vietnam, he returned to the University of South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã to pursue a master’s degree in business administration. Upon graduation in January 1969, he joined TSP in Sioux Falls as a mechanical engineer. In 1972, Ron joined the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Air National Guard as a captain in the engineering squadron. He retired from the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Air National Guard in October 2002, having served 37 years and achieving the rank of brigadier general. The last seven years of his military career he served as the assistant adjutant general for air for the state of South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã. He became a principal in TSP in 1977 and in 1981 assumed the role of president for the TSP organization. In 2002, he relinquished his role as president and became a senior leader in the construction services side of TSP. In the 38 years with TSP, he developed an extensive background in the leadership, management and financial aspects of the A/E/C industry. Mielke was active in his community throughout his career. He served in numerous capacities with the Sioux Empire United Way and the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. He served as the chairman of the Business Leadership Council and the co-chair of the Sioux Falls Area Military Task Force. He was a member of the Sioux Falls downtown Rotary Club for over 20 years and served as its president in 1997-98. Mielke was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Engineering Society for 38 years.