Colonel David Eberly is a native of Brazil, Indiana, and was commissioned through the AFROTC program upon graduation from Indiana University in 1969. After earning his pilot wings at Columbus AFB in Mississippi, he served in 18 locations around the world with three assignments at the Pentagon and was the United States Defense Representative in the American Embassy Ottawa.

As an airman, he has flown over 3400 hours primarily in the F-4 Phantom and the F-15E Strike Eagle with tours in fighter squadrons in the Philippines (90 TFS), Germany (512 TFS), and at the 4th Fighter Wing. In August 1990, he deployed to Southwest Asia as part of the allied forces supporting Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he served as the Director of Operations of the 4th Fighter Wing (Provisional) flying the F-15E in Oman and Saudi Arabia. During the Gulf War, he participated in the initial air strike into Iraq. On the fourth night of the campaign, he was shot down and, after evading three nights, was captured on the Syrian border. As the senior allied prisoner of war, he was subsequently released on March 5, 1991.

In April of 1991, he became the first Commander of the Fourth Operations Group, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. In 1992, he served as an Air Force Joint Planner, Headquarters Air Force, and then was selected as the Defense Attaché to Ottawa. He retired from the USAF in November, 1997, but continues to work independently for the US government.

Colonel Eberly earned numerous military decorations. His combat awards include: the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
His book Faith Beyond Belief details his experience as a downed airman and prisoner in Baghdad.
He is married to Barbara Ellen Freund, and they have a son, Timm.