Lieutenant Colonel Ronald S. Holasek graduated from Eden Prairie High School in 1951 and the University of Minnesota as a Mechanical Engineer in 1956. He was commissioned from the ROTC program at graduation as a 2nd LT USAR, Corp. of Engineers.

He was rated as an Army Aviator in 1958, completed U.S. Army Safety program in 1965 and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot program in 1966. He served two tours in Vietnam, 1963/64 and 1968/69.