Adam Kissiah was born 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 returned to school at Charlotte College, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC where he earned a B.S. in Physics in 1956.

From September 1956 to April 1963, 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).

In April, 1963, he was employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), at Kennedy Space Center, FL. And assigned duties as launch instrumentation systems engineer. He served in various capacities such as section chief, staff engineer, and as contract technical manager/representative in launch instrumentation and data systems operation and management. He supported Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Apollo Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz test project (ASTP), and shuttle programs through November, 1989.

During his employment with NASA, he applied for a patent through NASA / Kennedy Space Center (KSC) patent counsel (James O. Harrell) for the patent of an electronic digital hearing aid, United States Patent # 4,063,048, awarded Dec 13,1977, re-issued (#31,031) Sep 14, 1982. The patent is considered the first patentable design for digital electronics stimulation of the acoustic nerve in humans. Principles 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 member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Canaveral Section, Florida, a member of the American Legion, and is a current member of the board of directors of the New Abilities Federation, Chicago, Ill.

Awards

• December 2001 - Adam Kissiah was awarded the IEEE Electrotechnology Transfer Award for contributions in the fields of aerospace instrumentation, including developing principles of the Cochlear implant device.
   

• October 2002 - Adam Kissiah wins the prestigious NASA Space Act Award which included a signed certificate from NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and $21,000, the largest monetary award ever given to a single inventor in Kennedy’s history.
   

• April 10, 2003 - Adam was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame
   

• July 30, 2004 - Adam Kissiah wins the World Ability Award from the World Ability Federation

In the midst of the recognition surrounding his invention, Adam Kissiah has remained extremely humble about his role.  "Regardless of what level of participation I had, it is nice to know I contributed to making many lives better,” he said.

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