Major David Shank is a native of Wisconsin and completed high school in Kent, Washington.  He attended The University of Alaska Anchorage graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Piloting.  He attended Officer Candidate School during the summer of 2010 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in March 2011.  He reported to The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia that summer and graduated with Echo company in December 2011.

After completing The Basic School, Second Lieutenant Shank entered flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida with follow-on training at NAS Whiting Field, Florida with VT-6. He was winged a Naval Aviator in April 2014 at NAS Meridian, MS. After completion of flight training with VT-9 he reported to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 in Cherry Point North Carolina, for training in the AV-8B Harrier.

After graduating from VMAT-203, Captain Shank reported to Marine Attack Squadron 231 and deployed to CENTCOM from 2016-2017 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.  He was then assigned to 2d Tank Battalion in Camp Lejeune North Carolina as the Air Officer.  While serving with 2d Tank Battalion he deployed to Norway in support of Trident Juncture 2018 as the Division Air Officer.  After returning from Norway, Captain Shank obtained his Joint Terminal Attack Controller Instructor qualification and assisted training young JTACs with 10th Marines.

In 2019 Captain Shank was then assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 542 for two years before being reassigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 as the Operations Officer.  While there he attended and graduated Weapons and Tactics School 2-22.  In July of 2022 Major Shank reported to the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island gaining his Master’s Degree in Defense Studies.  Upon graduation, Major Shank was then assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 223 as the Executive Officer.

Major Shank’s personal decorations include the Air Medal with Bronze Numeral Four, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign decorations.