David Valaer

Founder & President

David is a former F-16 TOPGUN USAF fighter pilot and currently a top ranked competitive aerobatics pilot. He was previously owner and CEO Simplex Aerospace with over 50 FAA STC certifications and has extensive experience in aerospace business operations management, process control and strategic management.

Throughout his career, David has earned the reputation as a respected difference maker who blends his trailblazing spirit with a passion for business success, forward-thinking, vision, and commitment to personal growth in resolving critical problems while moving companies toward market leadership heights.

David served as President, CEO, and 100% owner of Simplex Aerospace, a 70-year-old manufacturer of aerospace equipment. He quickly assessed business operations, capabilities and internal constraints of human resource management, customer relationships, and growth opportunities in the market. David acquired 100% of Simplex—fulfilling a dream of owning his own company, he created and led a vision that would usher this underperforming and mature business into a new era of globalization, engineering innovation, product simplification, and system modernization. His leadership was pivotal in elevating gross margins from 30% to 70% and EBITDA margins from 10% to 40% and increasing share value over 20X.
David holds a B.S. in finance, management, and psychology from the University of Oregon where he was part of the Honors Program and earned Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, Magna Cum Laude Honors. While completing his M.B.A. in finance and accounting from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, David taught upper-division courses of 300+ students in quantitative and financial analysis. Following graduation, he was recruited into a management consulting position for PwC (PriceWaterhouseCoopers).