The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division commander recently honored Point Mugu employee Roger Giesel as one of only a handful of people currently in the command with more than 50 years of federal government service.

“It is an honor for me to recognize Roger and his 50 years of dedicated service to our country,” said Rear Adm. Mat Winter, NAWCWD commander. “Roger’s professional passion and work ethic set the standard for which we all should strive.”

Originally from Hillsboro, Ore., Giesel joined the Navy after high school graduation in 1961 and served four years as an aviation electronics technician. During this time, he was detailed to Michelson Lab at China Lake for a year testing Sidewinder 1C guidance sections for VX-4 during the missile’s operational evaluation phase.

Giesel said he joined the Navy to serve his country and get some career development training in electronics. “The Navy provided some excellent vocational training through their schools,” he said.

After getting out of the Navy, Giesel joined the Department of Defense and continued to support the Sidewinder program. From 1965 to 1968, he worked at the Concord Naval Weapons Station performing rate table testing of Sidewinder 1C guidance sections at the Quality Evaluation Laboratory.

Giesel has worked at Point Mugu since 1968. He first reported there when it was known as the Pacific Missile Test Center, and performed radar cross-section and antenna measurements on various air vehicles and target augmentations. Giesel began working at the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Hardware-in-the Loop (HIL) laboratory in 1983. He is still there today working as an electronics technician providing test and evaluation plans, constructing and testing specialized electronic circuits, and calibrating and maintaining the electronics equipment in the lab.

Giesel was responsible for bringing the routine maintenance performed on the hydraulic flight table in the AMRAAM HIL lab in-house, which meant no longer having to rely on outside maintenance support.

“I am most proud of Admiral Winter presenting me with a lifetime achievement award from himself and the Secretary of the Navy,” Giesel said. “These gentlemen are providing good leadership for us, and they deserve the very best work we can do for them to accomplish the mission.”

Giesel said he has seen a lot of changes during his career but one of the biggest is the ever-increasing speed of technology especially in computers and automated testing procedures. “Reliability in electronic circuits today is incredible compared to the past,” he said.

Giesel said he will retire eventually but for now, he plans to continue supporting the AMRAAM program as he has for nearly 30 years.

“I would not change a thing about my career,” Giesel said. “The opportunity to serve my country and work with a great bunch of people has been the best part of my career. I work with a great team here and I appreciate their help.”

Based on his experience, Giesel encourages those just entering the workforce to consider a career with the federal government.

“The Department of Defense, especially the Navy, offers great opportunities in career fields, schooling and training,” Giesel said. “They are good people to work with and the freedom to pursue career changes is always there, providing exciting programs to work on and providing challenging problems to solve.”