David Cortez is a former United States Marine who served one year with the Third Reconnaissance Battalion in Okinawa, Japan.  Cortez is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and holds a BA in business administration. He is a twenty-four year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department, where he currently serves as a sergeant in the Patrol Division. Among his many assignments in police work are the Patrol Division, Vice, Intelligence, Narcotics, Burglary, Detective, Gang Unit, Federal Drug Task Force, (known as Weed-n-Seed) and the Training Division. 

David Cortez currently trains police recruits in defensive tactics at the Tarrant County College Police Academy.  He has trained several thousand police officers over the years in all issues involving the "use of force" to include arrest control tactics, pepper spray, police baton and other impact weapons, gun retention, ground fighting, open- hand control, and tactical communication.  David Cortez has attended defensive tactics instructor schools sponsored by the FBI, Ft. Worth Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety Defensive Tactics Instructors Conference.  He has also attended one arrest control tactics instructors'  course taught by Bob Koga.  During David Cortez's twenty-four year police career, he has received twenty-two police commendations, one award for Exemplary Service and one award for valor.  Sergeant David Cortez was also awarded two Nick Fowler Top Instructor Award's at the Tarrant County College Basic Police Officer's Academy.  David Cortez is the author of A Personal Guide for Cabin and Cockpit Self Defense.

According to the book description of A Personal Guide for Cabin and Cockpit Self Defense, “This book outlines a variety of self defense related issues. First it recognizes terrorism profound impact on the flight industry and the American way of life. Secondly, it draws informal parallels between the current flight industry and our system of policing while defining some terrorist methods of operations. Moreover, the book addresses a need foi a change in attitude and purpose as it relates to flight personnel. Varied issues involving fear, emotional control, legality, personal attitudes, edged weapons defenses, and personal weapons, are delineated in this book.. What’s more, realistic self-defense measures are clarified for Cabin and Cockpit Defense. This book is a classic "HOW TO" on Self-Defense and a must read for airline personnel, police and the military.”