Donald L. Mallick (born October 4, 1930) is an American former pilot at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center from 1963 to 1981.

The mandatory WWII draft was still in effect and provided an excellent excuse for Mallick to leave college and follow his desire to become a pilot.

Following USAF's rejection, he walked down the hall of the old Pittsburgh Post Office Building and signed up with the Navy.

Mallick married a home town girl, Audrey E. Waite, right upon his graduation from the naval flight training.

Mallick was a successful Navy pilot and enjoyed the challenges of his naval aviation career, but it was not conducive to his married life, with extended separations of sea cruises.

When Mallick showed up at class one day with an almost new Buick, his professor accused him of being a professional student, who could not afford to leave school.

Immediately afterwards, Mallick was lucky enough to obtain a flying position with what was then called NACA (now NASA), at Langley, Virginia.

He also flew a small amphibian JRF aircraft that carried Fuming Nitric Acid to the launch facility, at Wallops Island, VA.

The testing performed at now NASA Langley was primarily investigating and improving aircraft stability and handling qualities.

In 1962, Mallick spent more than thirty percent of his time away from home and family, which prompted him to transfer to NASA Edwards in 1963, when such an opportunity came up.

He later became Deputy Chief for the Dryden Aircraft Operations Division, serving in a management position with some limited research and support flying.

In the summer of 1964, Mallick enrolled at the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS), located at Edwards Air Force Base near NASA.

In August 1967, Mallick was promoted to Chief Pilot of NASA Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center.

During his time at NASA, Mallick was asked to assist in publishing a book about his flying history, called The Smell of Kerosene.