Informed by his interest in medical sociology, aging and the life course, and disability theory, the majority of his research focuses on health and mortality trends across the life course for those with developmental disability, and for veterans. His other primary research focus addresses the intersections of intellectual disability and social theory.

Landes received his PhD in Sociology from the University of Florida in 2014.

Kingson is founding co-director since 2009 of the Social Security Works. Located at the national headquarters of the AFL-CIO, Social Security Works launched and staffs the Strengthen Social Security Coalition (co-chaired by Kingson), a coalition of over 300 national and state organizations dedicated to advancing economic security through strengthening and expanding our nation’s Social Security policies and programs. A member of the organizing committee and then founding board member, 1988-1997, of the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), he was re-elected to its board in 2015. Past-chair (2004) of the Social Research, Policy and Practice section of the Gerontological Society of America, he directed the organization’s Emerging Issues in Aging Program (1984-5). Kingson served as policy advisor to two presidential commissions — the 1982-3 National Commission on Social Security Reform and the 1994 Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform. An active volunteer on the Obama Campaign’s Retirement Security Policy Advisory Committee beginning in July 2007, he later served on the advisory committee to the Social Security Administration’s transition team.