Don Cline was born in Statesville, NC, and has lived in the state most of his life.  He has lived in Greensboro since 1959 when he joined the technical staff of Bell Telephone Laboratories.  In 1977, Don left Bell Labs with three other engineers and formed Micro Computer Systems (MCS).  Following the sale of MCS to Harris Corporation in 1995, Don served as the president of MCS Operations at Harris for one year.
 
In 1998, Don founded the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute and continues to serve as PARI’s president and board member.  Don also serves on advisory boards for the Appalachian State University (ASU) College of Arts and Sciences, the ASU Engineering Physics Professional Science Master (PSM) programs, UNC Greensboro College of Arts and Sciences, Mars Hill College, Guilford Technical Community College, UNC Charlotte and the NASA NC Space Grant Consortium. He also helped fund the J. Donald Cline Observatory atop the Frank Family Science Center at Guilford College.
 
Additionally, Don serves on the board of directors for Auspice, a software company, and is a board member of RWG Licensing, LLC.  He is a member of the Kenan Fellow Board of Advisors, Director of the Pisgah Science Education Museum, and was appointed by the NC governor as a member of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Advisory Commission. In April of 2008, Don was presented the Champion of Science award by the North Carolina Science, Mathematics and Technology (SMT) Education Center.
 
Don received a BS in physics and a BS in mathematics from Guilford College and was awarded an Electrical Engineering Technology degree from NC State University. His post-graduate course studies include courses in astronomy, physics, optics, engineering, computer science, economics, and business administration.
 
Don has supported the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) during these years and is a Life Member, a board member of the Events Committee from 1974 to 1986, BFA Board Member and Treasure from 1986 to 1989, BFA/NAA Balloon record Attempts Coordinator 1988 to 1996 and is a BFA approved Safety Seminar Speaker.

He has a life-long interest in aviation, flying fixed wing aircraft in the 1950’s and 1960’s and becoming involved in lighter-than-air aircraft in 1970. In 1974 he became a commercial pilot and was a FAA designated flight examiner from 1978 to 2005. He has been involved with gas and hot air ballooning as a pilot, observer, safety officer and competition director.  He is the only pilot to have flown in the Statesville Hot Air Balloon Event each year since its inception in 1973. In a 1991 ceremony at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Don was presented one of aviation’s highest honors, the Certificate of Honor from the National Aeronautic Association for the advancement of aviation and space flight.