Don O’Nesky was born in Haileyville, Oklahoma on November 7, 1935. He graduated from Haileyville High School 1953, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Oklahoma State University in 1957. In 1977 while serving in the Air Force, he received a Master of Science degree from Troy State University. He is also a graduate of the Air Force prestigious Air Command and Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He served as deputy executive director of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the world’s largest geological organization, from 1985 until his retirement on June 30, 2002. He joined the AAPG staff in 1978 upon retirement from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He entered the Air Force in 1958 as a Second Lieutenant. During the next twelve years he progressed through administrative, personnel, and managerial positions of increasing responsibility. In 1970 O’Nesky became director of postal operations for the Air Force worldwide postal organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C. Three years later he was executive officer to the director of air operations in Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, one of NATO’s major subordinate organizations located in Naples, Italy. In 1976 he returned to the United States as the director of administration of Civil Air Patrol, a non-profit organization, where he served until his retirement. His overseas assignments include the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, and Vietnam. In June 2000 he was inducted into “Who’s Who in the Military in Oklahoma.”
O’Nesky is a member of the Finance Committee, American Geological Institute; member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists; Trustee Associate of the AAPG Foundation [Vice Chairman-2009, Chairman 2011-12]; and Past President, Tulsa Society of Association Executives. He is a life member of the following organizations: Military Officers Association of America, Air Force Association, American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Veterans, and the National Rifle Association.
He was active in the Oklahoma Republican Party, serving four years as State Committeeman and six years as Chairman of the Creek County Republican Party. He served as Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party from 1995 to 1999 and Chairman of the First Congressional District from 1999 to 2002. He was elected as an Alternate Delegate to the 1992, and Delegate to the 1996 and 2000 Republican National Conventions. He was elected a Presidential Elector and Chairman of the Oklahoma Presidential Electors for the 2000 election. In 2004 he was elected President of the Republican Club of South Sarasota County Florida, and reelected in 2005. He is currently a member of the Sarasota County Republican Executive Committee.
He is married to the former Mary Meliti of Croton-On-Hudson, New York and they have one son, Don Jr. Don and Mary currently reside in Venice, Florida.
