David McKinley (BS '70) is used to being the odd man out. As one of two professional engineers in Congress, McKinley often finds himself debating legislation and hot-button topics with fellow lawmakers who do not necessarily understand his more scientific approach to solving problems.

"Many of the members of Congress are attorneys, so it makes for an interesting mix," McKinley says. "We are kind of like oil and water at times. They are not always comfortable that I use an engineering approach for identifying a problem and implementing solutions. It's not the typical way things are done in Washington."

McKinley says his time at Purdue gave him the confidence to confront difficult issues and take on new challenges.

"I was not the best student with the best grades," McKinley says. "It was not my focus to have the highest grades. I focused on obtaining the knowledge and experiences I needed to meet my professional goals."

McKinley took a risk as soon as he graduated by starting his own homebuilding business. Eventually, after years of working in the construction industry as a certified professional engineer, he founded McKinley and Associates — an architectural and engineering firm. McKinley and Associates is the largest A&E firm in West Virginia with offices in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Over the four decades McKinley ran the business, he created hundreds of jobs.

Following his success in small business, McKinley decided to turn his attention to government. From 1981 through 1994, he represented the Third Delegate District in the West Virginia Legislature and in 1990 was elected as chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party Executive Committee. McKinley was elected into office in 2010, and currently represents the First District of West Virginia, which includes the northern part of the state and the cities of Wheeling and Morgantown. He is currently serving his third term.

McKinley is a seventh-generation resident of Wheeling, West Virginia. He is married with four children and six grandchildren.

As an individual with significant hearing impairment and a grandfather to a child with special needs, McKinley is no stranger to overcoming the obstacles of disabilities. He has used his role on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees health policy, Medicare and Medicaid to push for better coverage for families and the elderly.

"You can use a disability as an excuse, or you can push on through it," McKinley says. "I often say a person's own doubts are their only limiting factor."