Bio

Founder and former CEO/President

Matrix Composites is a manufacturer of flight-critical composites structures for aerospace and defense.  The company has been operating here on the Space Coast for 30 years and is an excellent example of Florida Techs impact on the local community.

Mr. Nesbitt graduated from Florida Tech in 1987 with a BS in Ocean Engineering.  In 1993, David founded Matrix Composites Inc. He and his two partners Mr. Ken Swarner (ASU Industrial Engineering ‘81) and Mr. Doug Dawson (FIT OE ’87) started the Company with its original factory in Palm Bay, Florida. The Company differentiated itself by focusing on precision molding of complex flight-critical structures. The self-financed business grew organically from just several employees to more than 120 technicians, production personnel, administrators, and engineers before its acquisition by ITT Corporation (White Plains, NY) in 2019.

Matrix became known through industry for its technical capabilities, reliability, and high quality. The Company secured long-term manufacturing agreements on many notable aerospace and defense programs. In 2005, Matrix became a key supplier of the F22 Raptor (5th generation fighter.) Subsequently, Matrix supported F35 production by licensing its trademarked HiRPM® Process to Lockheed Aeronautics (Palmdale, CA).

The Company currently produces flight-critical vanes, stators, and airflow surfaces for GE’s LEAP-1B and 9X commercial aircraft engines as well as all of Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbo Fan(GTF) engines. Matrix hardware can be found on all Airbus NEO aircraft as well as Boeing 747, 787, and 737 Max commercial jets.

David retired in July 2022 and resides in Melbourne Beach, Florida. He has been a long-time supporter of Florida Tech hiring many graduates, employing interns, and donating time and materials to Student Senior Design projects over the years.  He now serves as an advisor and consultant to the aerospace composite industry. He is an active member of the Melbourne Yacht Club and is on the Aerospace Engineering Advisory Board at Florida Tech.    He spends his time sailing competitively on the Indian River and around the country. He enjoys playing tennis, spending time with his two daughters, and traveling.