Daniel Thomas Ronneberg [Edit]

Mr. DC Eagle 2015

Daniel Thomas Ronneberg (born April 17, 1976) is a Washington, DC based leather titleholder and LGBT and PrEP Education advocate.  He is American Leatherman 2015 and Mr. DC Eagle 2015.

Early Life and Education

Ronneberg was born April 17, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois.  He is the oldest of 4 children and graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1993.

Ronneberg was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and minored in Philosophy.  Prior his 1997 commissioning in the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was selected for joint pilot training with the Navy and after commissioning successfully completed primary and intermediate training in Florida before earning his wings at Vance AFB, OK.  Ronneberg served in the Air Force as a pilot and instructor until 2007 when he separated, having attained the rank of Major (O-4).  Ronneberg’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and multiple Aerial Achievement Medals and Air Force Commendation Medals.

Ronneberg earned a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2003 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver College of Law in 2005.  Ronneberg is admitted to practice law in Colorado, Oklahoma, the District of Columbia, and was admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court in 2015.

Ronneberg works for the federal government and is a long time union leader and representative.  He also served as the national president of his agency’s LGBT Employee Association for over 5 years.

In the Leather Community

Like many, Ronneberg’s first experience in the Leather Community involved timid visits to a local leather bar surrounded by friends encouraging him to become involved in the leather and kink community.  That bar was The Triangle, formerly of Denver, CO.  Ronneberg’s first attendance at International Mr. Leather was in 2008 where he met and made friends with sexy, fun, and hospitable leathermen.  Later, accepting a work promotion, Ronneberg settled in Washington DC where the DC Eagle became his home bar.  The DC move also brought Ronneberg’s first 24/7 polyamorous power exchange relationship where he met his boys Todd (Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2016) and Todd’s husband Randy.  Ronneberg’s leather family also includes his husband David “Tigger” Ronneberg (Bailey), Mr. New Jersey Leather 2016, and the 38th International Mr. Leather.

With the support of Todd and Randy, Ronneberg entered his first leather contest at the DC Eagle in 2014, placing far behind Ramien Pierre who would go on to win International Mr. Leather 2014.  Ronneberg tried again in 2015, successfully, at the DC Eagle’s new location and placed a respectable 6th at the 37th International Mr. Leather competition.  Ronneberg’s contestant speech on HIV Stigma was named as one of Leatherati’s most memorable speeches from IML in 2014.  Due to the closure and move of the DC Eagle, Ronneberg’s title year was just 8 months, but he leveraged his experience as a national LGBT employee association president to raise money for Whitman-Walker Health (originally Washington DC’s Gay Men’s VD Clinic), advocate for PrEP Education, and tackle HIV Stigma.

Ronneberg was encouraged to continue his advocacy and community service platform as American Leatherman by friend and 2013 American Leatherboy Tank Teachworth.  Resistant at first, Ronneberg eventually was persuaded to compete for American Leatherman 2015 which he won at the American Brotherhood Weekend in Chicago, IL.

American Leatherman

Ronneberg’s Leather Family (L to R) David “Tigger” Ronneberg (Bailey), Dan Ronneberg, Todd, Randy

Ronneberg attended 53 events in 52 weeks as a national leather titleholder.  He travelled over 76,000 miles both within the United States and internationally, judging events and contests, giving keynote addresses, and supporting numerous local, regional, national, and international events.  Ronneberg raised thousands of dollars in local communities, participating in efforts that benefitted local charities and causes.  Ronneberg’s first event as American Leatherman was the 2016 Mr. New Jersey Leather contest, where he went to support his IML classmate Thomas Fincannon, who was stepping down as Mr. New Jersey Leather 2015.  There he met his future husboy (and Sir to the rest of the family) for the first time, David “Tigger” Ronneberg (Bailey), who was a contestant for Mr. New Jersey Leather.  In an interesting twist, Ronneberg’s jock was auctioned to benefit the Mr. New Jersey Leather travel fund, which would help support Tigger’s journey to IML.

Ronneberg made national news when he was interviewed by the Huffington Post on the subject of power-exchange relationships and polyamory in the leather community and again appeared in national news coverage as a participant in the fundraising calendar for gay rodeo (Ronneberg was 2017 Mr. April).  Ronneberg has appeared in photoshoots for various charities (“Behind the Sash” 2016 Mr. December), leather events (Bears, Bikers, and Mayhem; CLAW), and to help promote leather orientated businesses (LeatherWerks; Steelwerks).

Ronneberg served as a board member and officer for SigMA in Washington DC and was a board member and officer for DC Leather Pride.  Ronneberg is a member of the Potomac Motorcycle Club, whose home bar was the DC Eagle.  He produced the DC Eagle contest for several years.

Awards and Honors

2016–Mama’s Family  (Mama’s Capital Eagle)

2016–Pantheon of Leather Nominee; Man of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Mid-Atlantic Regional Award

2017–Imperial Court of Washington DC, President’s Award

2018–Pantheon of Leather Nominee; Mid-Atlantic Regional Award

2018–Imperial Court of the Americas Marcus B. Hernandez International Leather Leadership Award

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