Ruben F. Mettler

Ruben F. Mettler
Born	Template:Birth date Shafter, California, U.S.
Died	May 23, 2006(2006-05-23) (aged 82)
Occupation	Business executive
Years active	1940s–1988
Known for	Chairman and CEO of TRW Inc. (1977–1988)

Ruben F. Mettler (1924–2006) was a prominent American executive who held the positions of chairman and CEO at TRW Inc. between 1977 and 1988.

Early life

Mettler was born on February 23, 1924, in Shafter, California. He initially attended Stanford University supported by a Gamble Scholarship before transferring to the California Institute of Technology, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1944. Following his service during World War II, he returned to Caltech to obtain a master's degree in 1947 and subsequently earned a PhD in 1949.

Career

His professional journey began at Hughes Aircraft, after which he took on the role of special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense under the Eisenhower administration. Mettler joined the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation, which later became TRW Inc., advancing to president and chief operating officer from 1969 until 1977. He then served as chairman and CEO until 1988. His tenure on TRW’s board spanned from 1964 to 1994, and in recognition of his contributions, a driveway at TRW's Space Park campus was named after him. Mettler was instrumental in the development of significant U.S. missile programs such as the SM-65 Atlas, SM-68 Titan, LGM-30 Minuteman, and PGM-17 Thor for both the United States Air Force and NASA, along with involvement in the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory project.

Beyond TRW, he held board memberships at several major corporations including Bank of America, Merck & Co., Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and Bechtel. He also chaired the Business Roundtable from 1982 to 1984 and led The Business Council between 1985 and 1986.

Philanthropy

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Mettler to create initiatives aimed at increasing employment opportunities for Vietnam veterans. He also served as chairman of the United Negro College Fund and was honored with numerous awards throughout his career. These included Eta Kappa Nu’s Nation's Most Outstanding Electrical Engineer Award in 1954, recognition as One of Ten Outstanding Young Men of America by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1955, and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the United States Department of Defense in 1969. Additional accolades comprised the National Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1979, the Roy Wilkins Memorial Award from the L.A. NAACP in 1981, and the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1986. Mettler was a trustee at Caltech from 1968 until his passing, serving as chairman from 1985 to 1993. He maintained lifelong affiliations with Caltech Associates, President's Circle, and Alumni Association. The Ruben and Donna Mettler Professorship at Caltech is named in his honor.

Personal life

Mettler was married to Donna Jeane Smith and resided in Los Angeles. They had two sons: Matthew Frederick Mettler, who worked as an engineer at TRW Inc., and Daniel Frederick Mettler, who lives at the Jay Nolan Center in Canyon Country, California specializing in care for individuals with autism. Ruben F. Mettler died on May 23, 2006.