David S. Lewis

For other people named David Lewis, see David Lewis (disambiguation).

David Lewis, 1983

David Sloan Lewis, Jr. (July 6, 1917 - December 15, 2003) was an aeronautical engineer who led aerospace and defense giant General Dynamics for 14 years.

Early life

Georgia Tech, 1939

David Lewis was born in 1917, in North Augusta, South Carolina.^[1] As a child, he loved to read aviation books and build model aircraft.

Lewis attended the University of South Carolina, and transferred to Georgia Tech for his last two years. He graduated in 1939 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.^[1]

Career

After college Lewis began his work career at the Glenn L. Martin Company. Then in 1946, he moved to McDonnell Aircraft Company and became chief of aerodynamics.^[2][3] He was the program manager for the F-4 Phantom II, which was a highly successful jet fighter.^[4]

Following the merger of McDonnell and Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967, David Lewis served as President of McDonnell Douglas until 1970.^[5][6]

Lewis became the head of General Dynamics in 1970. He was influential in having the F-16 design team choose the Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engine following his experience with the engine in the McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighter. He remained head of the company until he retired in 1986 following pressure from a congressional subcommittee investigated fraud at General Dynamics specifically the Electric Boat Division involving submarine contracts and cost overruns.^[7]

Personal life

He was lifelong, active member of the Episcopal Church.^{[citation needed]} As a child, he was an altar boy at Grace Episcopal in Charleston, SC. He later attended the same church upon his retirement until his death.^{[citation needed]} He was married to his wife, Dorothy for 62 years. They had four children.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Martin, Douglas (December 18, 2003). "David S. Lewis, 86, Executive Who Led General Dynamics". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/18/business/david-s-lewis-86-executive-who-led-general-dynamics.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 9 July 2010. 
2. ^ "David S. Lewis, Jr., Former Chairman of General Dynamics, Dies at 86". General Dynamics, December 17, 2003
3. ^ "Corporations: The Colonel's Second Battle". Time, November 2, 1970.
4. ^ "Testing the F-4 Phantom II". Cal Tech, 1989.
5. ^ Yenne, Bill. McDonnell Douglas, p. 189. Crescent Books, 1985. ISBN 0-517-44287-6.
6. ^ Boeing History 1964 - 1970. Boeing.
7. ^ UPI. "Defense Firm`s Chairman to Quit". Chicago Tribune, May 23, 1985.

External links

• "Pentagon Watchdog Urges Suspension Of Firm`s Chairman", Sun-Sentinel, May 4, 1985
• "Pace to Head General Dynamics", Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1985
• "The Fugitive Accuser", Time, April 8, 1985

Persondata
Name	Lewis, David
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Date of birth	July 6, 1917
Place of birth
Date of death	December 15, 2003
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