David Taflin

David Taflin has a diverse work experience spanning over several years. David began their career as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, where they served as a Communications Officer and Electrical Officer on USS O'Callahan and later as the Chief Engineer on USS Pledge. During their time in the Navy, they also had a temporary duty assignment at the US Southern Command in Panama.

After leaving the Navy, David worked as a Summer Intern at Olin Aerospace. Following this, they joined Tecplot, Inc. as a Senior Software Development Engineer. In this role, they designed and developed software applications for scientists and engineers, utilizing languages such as C++ and Fortran on various platforms including Windows, Linux, and Macintosh. Additionally, David applied numerical algorithms to solve ordinary and partial differential equations and provided expertise to customers in areas related to engineering and software technical issues.

David also had a long career in the United States Navy Reserve, where they held the rank of Commander. David served in this capacity for 17 years, from 1990 to 2007.

David Taflin began their education at Anoka Senior High School, where they attended from 1977 to 1980. Following high school, they pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1980 to 1984. After completing their undergraduate studies, Taflin furthered their education at the University of Washington, where they obtained a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from 1989 to 1995.