About D. B.

D.B. is a dedicated leader with 15 years of experience in manufacturing, aerospace & defense, and engineering, including more than ten years in management. Holding both an Aerospace Engineering degree and an MBA, he combines technical expertise with business discipline. In his most recent role, he tripled business output in 18 months by scaling teams, systems, and strategy.

Growing up in a large family and now raising his own in San Diego, D.B. values community, hard work, and long-term relationships. Earlier in his career, he founded and operated a swim academy that served hundreds of local families, managing instructors, marketing, and payroll, which gave him firsthand understanding of small business ownership. Those early experiences, along with a family history of entrepreneurship, shaped his respect for hands-on leadership and the perseverance required to build something lasting.

Professional Journey

D.B.’s career has centered on leading technical, quality driven operations. After early work at a drone startup, he joined Raytheon as a Manufacturing Engineer and later became Engineering Manager for a 16-person team supporting $135 million in annual production. He implemented $3 million in automation CapEx, led major cost reduction initiatives, and managed operations under AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards.

At Northrop Grumman, he now serves as Department Head of Test Engineering, overseeing $200 million per year in flight-hardware testing and a team of 40+. He has increased test capacity by 300 percent, reduced turnover, delivered $1.5 million in annual savings, and achieved best-in-class results in safety, quality, and delivery.

He is also consulted across the company for AS9100 and government-audit preparation, organizational design, and technical root-cause investigations. In addition, he contributes to multiple government contract bids each week and manages departmental finances, from budgeting and procurement to labor rate and overhead control, providing a deep, hands-on understanding of regulated operations and fiscal discipline.

Vision and Leadership

D.B.’s vision is to grow a company into a regional industry leader through operational excellence, superior quality, and strategic expansion. An expert in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, he applies continuous-improvement systems that enhance performance and employee engagement. He believes that prioritizing people, aligning individual goals with company objectives, and maintaining rigorous processes create sustainable success.

Commitment to Legacy

D.B. believes every successful company reflects the vision and values of its founders. He is committed to honoring that legacy - preserving the people, culture, and reputation that made the business strong - while building on it for the next generation. Through SoCal Roots, he aims to ensure the company’s roots continue to grow deeper in the community it helped shape.