David Lyman, a Pratt School of Engineering graduate (EE’58), is known for his work in climate conservation and animal protection in Bangkok, Thailand. After his graduation, Lyman served in the U.S. Navy before moving to Bangkok. He is now the chairman and chief values officer of Tilleke & Gibbins, a law firm that has grown significantly since he joined in 1967. His work in environmental and animal protection has been recognized with several awards, including a royal decoration from the King of Thailand in 2021.
Lyman’s education took him to various schools in Maryland, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, South India, and Geneva, Switzerland. He studied electrical engineering at Duke, a subject that tested his math and science skills. He was part of the Duke Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). After overcoming academic challenges in his junior year, Lyman completed his degree at Duke.
Post-graduation, Lyman served in the military as an engineering officer on a minesweeper vessel in Long Beach, California. He later graduated from the U.S. Naval Submarine Officers Training School and served as an engineer on submarines for two years. He fulfilled his NROTC contract and continued his Naval Service in a Submarine Reserve Unit in San Francisco.