About Dave Dawson
It’s been said that we live our lives in three phases,
each one lasting about 25 years. The first phase is about learning – going
to school, learning a trade, and learning how to become an adult. The
second phase is about doing and experiencing, largely around developing
families and careers. The final phase is about transforming what we have
learned and the experience we have gained into teaching and serving others.
The Learning Years . . .
Dave Dawson grew up in a small town in Ohio where his class had twenty
students. His hometown is historically connected with the Civil War and
the Battle of Gettysburg. After the famous battle, a number of the settlers
in Pennsylvania left and traveled west to Darke County Ohio and resettled
naming the town Gettysburg.
Dave received three degrees from the University
of Dayton -- Bachelor
in Electrical Engineering, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering,
and an MBA with a focus on Organizational Development, Strategic Planning
and Finance.
The Experience Years . . .
After graduating from college, Dave joined the United
States Army and later served in the Air Force as both a civilian employee
and as a reserve officer. During the first half of his career, Dave held leadership positions
and was involved in a worldwide mission that provided telemetry support
to NASA and the Department of Defense. He traveled the world as an aircrew
member and was involved in satellite launches and submarine launched ballistic
missile tests.
A high point in Dave’s career was being the mission planner for
aircraft support to NASA’s Project Voyager. Another was being in
Suriname, South America when a military coup took over the country. He
and all his crewmembers made it out safely.
After six years, Dave’s military flying days were over
and he became a supervisor and managed a multi-million dollar upgrade
program that provided
support to national level interest both with NASA and the Department of
Defense.
Dave also became a coach for youth sports for his
two children during this time. That is where he first developed an interest in helping people
grow, develop, and achieve maximum results in their hobbies, careers and
personal lives. He learned to use his coaching philosophies in managing
at work.
For
the last twelve years of his career with the Air Force, Dave was
an acquisition program manager. His love of flying was still
strong and he eventually earned all the ratings - commercial, instrument,
multi-engine. and certified flight instructor. Dave and his airplane
are pictured here.
The Serving Years …
In 1999 Dave’s interest in becoming an entrepreneur, coach,
and consultant surfaced and he opted for early retirement. Dave is grateful
for all of his life and career experiences along with many mentors who
have supported him over the years and shared their secrets of success.
He uses their collective wisdom, along with his own, to coach and consult
with clients today.