Major USAF. Candidate for MOL-2 and MOL-3. Merkl was awarded his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1957. After receiving his Air Force wings he served as an instructor pilot at Laredo AFB, Texas, flying both T-33 and T-37 jet trainer aircraft. Merkl came to Texas Tech University Tech as a graduate student in electrical engineering from Laredo AFB in May, 1962 under the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) program, which allowed qualified applicants to work toward graduate and undergraduate degrees while still drawing full Air Force pay and allowances. He was a pace-setter of sorts at Texas Tech, being the second Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering and the first to complete all course work with a straight-A average. In 1966, with some 2,000 hours of flying time logged, Merkl was then assigned to Class 66B at the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) at Edwards AFB, California, later graduating first in his class.