David A. is a Artillery Officer at United States Marine Corps. Colleagues describe him as "I worked with David while assigned to the 1st Battalion 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton California. David was the Commanding Officer for the Headquarters element for the battalion. Though I’ve know David for about 3 years, I worked closely with him for a little over a year while we were in California. What always impressed me about David was his ability to effectively manage both up and down the chain of command. As a Captain, David was often at a rank disadvantage when dealing with some of the senior leaders of the battalion who fell under the umbrella of the Headquarters Element. His professional approach to partnering with those senior leaders had both finesse and confidence and were the cornerstone of his ability to effectively manage the unit. His ability to solicit cooperation across the organization made the operations of the Headquarters element both efficient and effective. His technical expertise in artillery provided key insights in developing the tactical doctrine required to maintain operational and combat readiness within the organization. David was also a patient and effective mentor to the junior leaders in his command. He spent countless hours providing direct mentorship and guidance to his junior officers and staff non-commissioned officers to help them develop in both their technical proficiency as well as in the art of effective leadership and management. He truly cared about the welfare of the Marines and Sailors in his command and took the time to get to know the men and women who were in his charge. He inspired teamwork and empowerment in such a way that increased both pride and engagement in the unit. A consummate professional, David always managed with a firm but fair hand. He has a steel will and a keen sense of fairness and values that makes him a strong and inspirational leader. I would gladly work with him again in any capacity. He’s a fine man, a great Marine and an transformational leader."