David Altherr

David Altherr has worked in a variety of roles in the propulsion engineering field since 2001. David began their career as an engineering co-op student at Structural Dynamics Research Corporation, followed by co-op positions at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). In 2004, they joined Gulfstream Aerospace as a Powerplant Technical Specialist, where they worked on sustaining the G450 and G550 programs, the HALO and CAEW Special Missions STC programs, and the G500/G600 program. In 2011, they moved to LMI Aerospace as a Senior Propulsion Systems Engineer, where they worked on the Virgin Galactic program. In 2014, they joined General Atomics Aeronautical Systems as a Project Engineer, where they executed multiple programs involving design, integration, and flight testing of payload and mission systems on the MQ-9 Predator B aircraft. In 2015, they moved to Aerion Supersonic as the Director of Propulsion, where they were responsible for propulsion system selection, development, and integration on the AS2 aircraft program. Finally, in 2021, they became the Propulsion Engineering Manager for Overair, an eVTOL aircraft startup company, where they are responsible for the Electric Engine, Engine Controls, Energy Storage, and Thermal Management.

David Altherr has a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science (MS) in Technical Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. David also holds certifications in GUE Fundamentals from Global Underwater Explorers (obtained in April 2014), Advanced Open Water Diver from PADI (obtained in September 2013), and Enriched Air Diver from PADI (obtained in September 2013).