PrepNow Tutor - David T.
With a passion for math and science, David has formally taught, tutored, and mentored the next generation of aerospace engineers. He received a BS in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland and earned an MS in aerospace engineering from the University of California, San Diego. In graduate school, he was a teaching assistant at UCSD; in this capacity, David made such an impact that a student sent the corresponding course professor a letter praising David's help during office hours!
After college, David was hired as an aerospace engineer by Lockheed Martin. He is part of the ADP flight sciences team in Marietta, GA. "I have worked on aircraft such as the F-35, F-22, C-130, P-3, C-5, and other conceptual aircraft," he explains. "My work involves sizing control surfaces, defining aerodynamic characteristics, and flying qualities analysis." However, during his 17 years at Lockheed Martin, he has done extensive mentoring of young engineers. "Passing on my knowledge to future generations and watching them learn and thrive has been my joy and greatest achievement," he states.
David is a demonstrator when it comes to teaching style. "I like to show different examples and give a broad perspective on how to solve a problem," he offers. "I like this style because I believe every problem can be broken down into simpler problems that are easier to understand." He also likes to relate math problems to real-world physical problems so that it is more relatable to students. "I believe memorization is important in learning, but more important is understanding how the principles are derived before memorization," he concludes.
David gleaned various accolades from his time at Lockheed Martin: Employee of the Month, the Special Recognition Award by LM Aero for F-35 work, and the SPOT Award (for achievements made on advanced development programs).
In high school, David was on the chess team. He played recreational basketball in college. Currently, he enjoys programming, swimming, and hiking. "I love playing the piano and am currently learning Chopin’s Nocturnes!"
