Doug obtained his aerospace engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin  in 1984 and Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1996. He spent seven years on active duty and another sixteen years as a reservist in the US Marine Corps, flying the AH-1W attack helicopter and retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His 20+ years of law practice has focused almost exclusively on the aviation and commercial spaceflight industries, with an emphasis on accident litigation and risk management. Doug has extensive experience defending aviation businesses, and representing injured persons and the families of deceased persons, as a result of catastrophic aircraft crashes.  He also has advised numerous start-up commercial spaceflight companies to include having served as general counsel.