David R. Cummock was bom in Salt Lake City, Utah the son of William R. and Margaret S. Cummock. His life long love of aviation began with a single airplane ride in 1954. Shortly after graduation from Salt Lake's East High School in June 1955 he earned a private pilots certificate. In 1956 he applied for the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program and was accepted. In February, 1957 he entered active duty as an aviation cadet. In June, 1958 he graduated (6 out of 66) with class 58-0 and received his pilot wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant. During nearly ten and one half years in the Air Force he flew the T-34, T-28, T-33, F-86, F-102, B47 and B-58 aircraft. At age 23, he was the youngest person in the Air Force to quality as an aircraft commander in the B-47. In 1964 he entered the B-58 program and at 27 years old became one of the youngest aircraft commanders in the history of that program as well.

The then, Captain Cummock left active duty in June 1967 and entered flight training with American Airlines. In September 1967, he qualified as a Boeing 727 flight engineer and was assigned to American Airlines New York domicile. In October, he joined the 104th Tactical Fighter Group (now the 104th Fighter Wing) of the Massachusetts Air National Guard where he served until retirement in September 1986. During those 19 years he was assigned as a Squadron Pilot, Ground Training Officer, Command Post Controller, Chief of Standardization, Flight Commander, Squadron Operations Officer, Squadron Commander, Massachusetts Director of Operations, and beginning in March 1981, Group Commander. He was promoted to Colonel in October 1981. He flew as an Instructor Pilot and Flight Leader in the units successive mission aircraft, the F-84F, the F-100D and F, and the A-10. He was the units top gun in 1975, 1977, and 1981 and the first pilot qualified as mission ready in the A-10. Colonel Cummock is a distinguished graduate (in residence) of Squadron Officer's School and a graduate of the Command and Staff and the National Security Management Programs by correspondence.

Captain Dave Cummock retired from American Airlines in February 1997. He spent the last five years of his airline career flying the Boeing 767 and 757 on international routes.

Dave Cummock is a life member of both AFA and AEF. He was elected a National Director in 2001 and also appointed a Trustee of the Aerospace Education Foundation. He was elected as a Trustee of AEF in 2002 and elected Secretary/Treasurer in 2003. He has been a delegate to every National AFA Convention from 1985 to the present and served as a Chapter, State, Region or National Officer continuously since 1986. He has served as President of two different AFA chapters and Vice President and President of AFA (Massachusetts) and AFA (Florida). During his tenure as President, both chapters and both states won major AFA National Awards. Dave served on the Veterans/Retiree Council, Long Range Planning Committee, and the Finance Committee. He is the recipient of many state and national awards including two Presidential Citations, an Exceptional Service Award and three Medals of Merit. He was the AFA (Massachusetts) Member of the Year for 1988, and AFA (Florida) Member of the Year in 1997. He has received three AFA (Florida) Presidential Citations. Dave is also an AEF Doolittle Fellow. He is the founder of the Wright Flight Program in Massachusetts and in Florida. Wright Flight is a non-profit corporation that promotes improved academic performance for Middle and High School students and rewards success with the adventure of flight. Dave is a life member of the Daedalians, The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA formerly TROA) and the National Guard Association of the United States. He served as President of the Halifax Chapter of MOAA in 2002 - 2003.

Dave and his wife Marguerite (also a life member of AFA) moved to the Spruce Creek Fly-In community near Daytona Beach, Florida in March of 1994. As a lifetime aviator, Dave has an intense interest in Embry-Riddle Aeronatucial University. He has served six years on the University's Board of Visitors including two years as Chairman. He is also a member of a formation air show team, the Marchetti Mavericks.

AFA leadership is a family affair with the Cummock’s. Marguerite served three years as the McCarthy Chapter Secretary and two years as Chapter President. She also served four years as AFA (Florida) State Secretary and VP for Communications and Newsletter Editor for both the Chapter and State organizations.

The Cummocks have two daughters; Tracy D. Cronin, Captain West Virginia Air National Guard; and life member of AFA. Dawn Nelson, and two grandsons, Ryan and Justin Nelson.

Return to the AEF Leadership Page