Dr. Al Koller 1941 – 2026
Albert M. “Dr. Al” Koller Jr., 1941 – October 17, 2026, Titusville, Florida
By SyndicatedNews | SNN.BZ
Albert M. “Dr. Al” Koller Jr. of Titusville, Florida, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the age of 85. A longtime resident of the Space Coast and a dedicated contributor to America’s space program, he is survived by his wife of many decades, Carol Ann (Knight) Koller; his daughters Terri Eads, Sandi Thorson (David), and Kristi Wagers (Zach); his son Michael (Lisa); 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and his brothers, including Steven, along with a wide circle of extended family, colleagues, and friends.
Dr. Koller began his aerospace career at age 17 in 1959 as a recent graduate of Titusville High School, joining the Army Ballistic Missile Agency’s Missile Firing Lab on Cape Canaveral as a member of Wernher von Braun’s rocket team. When the group transferred to NASA, he continued at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Vehicle Operations Directorate.
Over a 32-year NASA career he manned a console in the Firing Room for most of the Apollo launches, including Apollo 7 through 13 (notably Apollo 11). He later led the first Environmental Management Staff at KSC, overseeing development of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Space Shuttle program while operations continued in the midst of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. He also served in roles involving biomedical program management, environmental health, and total quality management. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in management from Florida State University.
After taking early retirement from NASA in 1992, Dr. Koller pursued a lifelong commitment to education. He worked with Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State College), served as Titusville Campus President and Executive Director of its Aerospace Program, and led the national consortium that created SpaceTEC—the National Science Foundation’s Center for Aerospace Technical Education—where he served as Principal Investigator and Managing Director until 2013.
He authored the book Exploring Space: Opening New Frontiers, remained active in aerospace consulting, and held community leadership roles including President of the NASA Alumni League Florida Chapter, Chairman of the Titusville Chamber of Commerce, and Rotarian of the Year.
A Titusville resident since the early 1960s, Dr. Koller was known for his technical expertise, educational outreach, community service, and deep roots in the local aerospace community. Arrangements are being handled by North Brevard Funeral Home & Crematory in Titusville.
