Dave Drummond was born in 1947 in Preston, England, and immigrated to the United States in 1951, receiving his American citizenship in 1961. He was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program at Newark College of Engineering in Newark, New Jersey, on June 4, 1969, and went on active duty beginning August 23, 1969. Lt Drummond next completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, in August 1970, followed by C-7 Caribou transition training in November 1970. He deployed to Southeast Asia in December 1970, and served as a C-7A pilot with the 535th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, from December 1970 to November 1971, and then for a short time as a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot with the 7th Air Refueling Squadron at Carswell AFB, Texas, from November 1971 to January 1972. Capt Drummond next attended B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training from January to May 1972, followed by service as a B-52 pilot with the 9th Bomb Squadron at Carswell AFB from May 1972 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam while on temporary duty to Southeast Asia on December 22, 1972. After spending 98 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and left active duty on August 17, 1973. After leaving the Air Force, Dave served as a Flight Test Engineer for Bell Helicopters and then retired after a career flying airliners for American Airlines. He also later was trapped and survived the Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on December 31, 1986.

His 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

Captain David L. Drummond distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as a B-52 Copilot in Southeast Asia on 21 December 1972. On that date, Captain Drummond participated in high priority bombing targets in heavily defended areas of North Vietnam. Despite the intensity of defensive reaction and the extreme hazard posed by numerous surface-to-air missiles and hostile interceptors, Captain Drummond displayed a courageous willingness to place the mission requirements above his personal safety in directing his aircraft to a successful release of his ordnance on the designated target. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Drummond reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.