North Schuylkill Home of the Spartans North Schuylkill School District - Home of the Spartans

Born in Shenandoah, PA, to Raymond W. and Beverly (Kowalsky) Kreiger. Raised in Ringtown, he attended Ringtown Elementary and graduated from North Schuylkill High School in 1985, ranking in the top 10% of his class. He also studied drafting, advanced math, and computers at North Vo-Tech in Frackville.

Although accepted to Penn State for mechanical engineering, Ray joined the U.S. Navy through its delayed entry program. He served 26 years, rising to Senior Chief Petty Officer as an Aviation Electronics Technician, earning a Gold Navy Enlisted Warfare qualification.

His Navy career included assignments at NAS North Island, Lemoore, Point Mugu, Whidbey Island, and New Orleans, as well as deployments aboard the USS Independence, USS Abraham Lincoln, and USS Ronald Reagan. He also performed humanitarian missions in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and participated in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

Ray played a key role in Operation Tomodachi, a humanitarian mission after Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami, supporting relief efforts for over a month before continuing deployment.

Ray continued his education throughout his military career and after retirement. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics, graduating magna cum laude in 2016 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and completed coursework toward a Master of Science in Aeronautics.

By using military tuition assistance, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and RTX's Employee Scholarship Program, Ray graduated debt-free—an achievement he hopes others will emulate.

Ray has worked for the past decade as a Manager and Field Service Engineer for RTX (formerly Raytheon). He supports FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) systems used on U.S. Navy helicopters and drone platforms, managing teams of technicians across multiple naval bases worldwide.

Ray extends his service mindset beyond his job. At RTX, he's the Veteran Outreach Coordinator for the local Veteran Employee Resource Group, supporting veterans as they transition to civilian careers. He also volunteers with FIRST Robotics, mentoring students in grades 7–12 through the FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Challenge.

Ray and his wife Rosalinda have lived in Orange Park, Florida, since 2003. They enjoy traveling, playing golf, and spending time with their church small group. Ray's three siblings—Gayle, Nadine, and Steven—are all graduates of North Schuylkill High School.