Bob Persell has had a lifelong love of learning. He graduated with a degree in history from the University of Virginia and entered a career in the Navy. His sea duty included tours of duty on destroyers and the nuclear powered cruiser Long Beach.
     Bob always figured that if he weren’t at sea he should be engaged in learning. While in the Navy, he earned masters degrees from George Washington University and from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also graduated from the Naval Destroyer School, the Naval War College and the Navy Nuclear Power Program (where Admiral Rickover must have thought Bob would provide comic relief for the other students – which he did).
     Bob has had experience in program management with the Defense Communications Agency. He also was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School staff for four years where he worked closely with faculty and Navy sponsors to ensure that the graduate electrical engineering curricula met the Navy’s needs. On his final tour, he served as a management consultant to high level commands in the Washington area.
     After leaving active duty, Bob joined NASA’s Training and Development Office where he taught courses, served as deputy and then became Director. The office conducted residential training programs for NASA’s managers and senior executives as well as providing organization development services to organizations within NASA.
     After retiring from NASA, Bob heard about OLLI. It sounded like a wonderful idea and in 2002 he joined. He has taught classes at both Tallwood and Reston and serves as History Club Coordinator.
     Bob and his wife, OLLI French teacher Beverley, have two sons and four grandchildren. Bob believes humor and perspective are essential to fully enjoy life. If elected to the board, he pledges to bring his love of OLLI and his experience to meet future challenges.