Leonard “Len” C. Pursiano is a world renowned, award-winning electrical engineer and decorated veteran who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Pursiano was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Medal with the Bronze Battle Star, the Philippine Islands Liberation Ribbon, the American Theatre Medal and the Victory Medal for his service with the U.S. Navy’s 7th Amphibious Fleet as an Electronic Technicians Mate, 2nd Class.
Following the war, Mr. Pursiano used the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the “G.I. Bill” to get his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the College of the City of New York. Afterwards, he went on to obtain a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Newark College of Engineering.
A licensed Professional Engineer in New Jersey and New York, Len joined Bendix Corp, an American manufacturing and engineering company, in 1949 as a Magnetics Transformer Design Engineer. During his 46 years working at Bendix Corp, Len rose to the rank of Chief Magnetics Design Engineer, where he led a team of 10 Electrical Engineers engaged in the design and development of magnetic devices and components used for Space and Avionics Programs, including the Apollo Saturn V Rocket, Space Shuttle, International Space Station, Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Hubble Space Telescope, Global Positioning System, Boeing 707, 727, 747, and 777. Throughout his career, Len was granted four patents related to Electromagnetic Devices including Electromagnetic Digital Indicators used as instrument readouts in the flight and engine instruments of the early version of the Boeing 747.
For his work, Len received numerous awards from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) , including the Apollo Achievement Award for his contribution to Man’s First Landing on the Moon on July 20, 1969, the First Space Shuttle Flight Achievement Award for his contribution to the First Manned Orbital Flight of the Space Shuttle, and the Space Station Award by McDonnell Douglas and Honeywell for his contribution to the International Space Station.
Following his retirement, Len joined the Bergen County Division of Senior Services as a volunteer. As the oldest and most active volunteer in the County, Len assists residents with any issues related to the New Jersey State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
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Bergen County Division of Veteran Services
The Division of Veterans Services was established in 1977 to provide resident veterans and their dependents with information and assistance in obtaining earned entitlements from federal, state, and local governments, as well as any that are available from the private sector.
Through a quarterly newsletter and direct client contact, the division provides Bergen’s veterans organizations and their auxiliaries and individual residents with up-to-date benefit information.
