David Lienard received the BA degree in math and physics from Illinois College in 1974, an MBA Degree from the University of Central Florida in 1983 while assigned as an instructor at Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and the Mechanical Engineer Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, where he began his study of sliding mode control theory.He joined the Navy in 1979 after teaching high school in Lincoln, Illinois. He is currently an Engineering Duty Officer stationed at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding Office, Newport News, Virginia.