David Sloan Lewis Jr. (July 6, 1917 – December 15, 2003) was an Americanaeronautical engineer who led aerospace and defense giantGeneral Dynamics for 14 years.
David Lewis was born in 1917, inNorth Augusta, South Carolina.[1] As a child, he loved to read aviation books and build model aircraft.
Lewis attended theUniversity of South Carolina, and transferred toGeorgia Tech for his last two years. He graduated in 1939 with a degree inaeronautical engineering.[1] While at Georgia Tech, he was a member of theSigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[citation needed]
After college Lewis began his work career at theGlenn L. Martin Company. Then in 1946, he moved toMcDonnell Aircraft Company and became chief of aerodynamics.[2][3] He was the program manager for the highly successfulF-4 Phantom II jet fighter.[4]
Following the merger of McDonnell andDouglas Aircraft Company in 1967, David Lewis served as president ofMcDonnell Douglas until 1970.[5][6]
Lewis became the head of General Dynamics in 1970. He was influential in having theF-16 design team choose thePratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engine following his experience with the engine in the McDonnell DouglasF-15 fighter. He remained head of the company until he retired in 1986. Upon his retirement, he remained on the board of directors through 1993. He also served on the Board of Directors forRalston Purina andMead Paper, as well as the Board Executive Committee forBank of America.[citation needed]
Lewis received numerous national and international awards for his contribution to the field of aeronautics, including theRobert J. Collier Trophy in 1975, the Golden Plate Award of theAmerican Academy of Achievement in 1977,[7] the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award in 1981, theDaniel Guggenheim Medal in 1982, and theWright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 1984. Lewis was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 2000.[8] He was a member of the Georgia Tech Council of Distinguished Engineering Graduates and a trustee emeritus of the Georgia Tech andWashington University in St. Louis Foundations.[9] He was named a Fellow of theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and theNational Academy of Engineering.[10]
Lewis was married to his wife, Dorothy, for 62 years. They had four children.[1]
