David Schleicher

Dave Schleicher has more than 30 years of experience in the research, development, and systems analysis of advanced air traffic control and cockpit technologies as well as advanced vehicle concepts.

Dave also has over 20 years of experience in management of research and development (R&D) projects and organizations and business development.

Dave received his B. S. E. degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (summa cum laude) from Princeton University. After receiving his Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University, Dave started his career as a NASA aerospace engineer at NASA’s Ames Research Center working on the design and assessment of advanced military and high-speed civil rotorcraft including civil tiltrotors. After receiving a Diploma (avec grand fruit) at the Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Brussels, Belgium, focused on aerodynamics study and research, Dave returned to NASA Ames and served on the research program development and management team that led NASA’s emerging Advanced Air Transportation Technologies (AATT) program. In the AATT program, Dave served as the manager for Benefits and Safety Assessment, where he led in-house and contractor analytical efforts and simultaneously obtained his private pilot’s license.

Since serving at NASA, Dave has worked in multiple roles in private industry as an Air Traffic Management systems engineer, R&D project manager, and business development lead focused on the development of advanced ATM technologies. Dave’s extensive ATM R&D experience includes the design and development of real-time ATM automation systems spanning the domains of airport, metroplex, and en route airspace as well as the development of advanced wildfire fighting concepts/simulations, advanced general aviation cockpit technologies, and support for ATAC’s multiple innovative research projects targeting Advanced Air Mobility use cases spanning dimensions of airspace analysis, weather forecasting, noise impact analysis, and human-in-the-loop simulation. Dave also recently helped ATAC win an award in the 2024 FAA Safety Data Transformation Challenge.

Dave is a co-holder of a patent on a smart airport automation system. Dave has also led teams in developing both real-time and fast-time ATM simulations and associated scenario generation and analysis tools as well as demonstrations and assessment of new ATM operational concepts for major U.S. government agencies including NASA, the FAA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dave currently serves in the role of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). As COO, he manages and oversees all active projects, including services, tool development, and IR&D, and works with the Business Development Team to support new strategic business outreach efforts to current and new government and private industry clients.