About David Ortiz

Profile last reviewed and updated: June 1, 2026 · Maintained by the Die Tryin Co. editorial team

Recipe Developer, Die Tryin Co. U.S. Army Combat Veteran  |  13B Field Artillery  |  CAB(Combat Action Badge)  |  The Art Institute of Tucson, Culinary Program (2008, Top of Class)  |  Certified Life Coach

 

WHO IS DAVID ORTIZ?

David Ortiz (no, not that Ortiz — but he’ll laugh if you ask) is a family man, gym rat, U.S. Army combat veteran, and culinary-trained recipe developer for Die Tryin Co. His two main hobbies: training hard and cooking well — just not at the same time, because that’s unsanitary.

David served in the U.S. Army in the same unit as Die Tryin Co. founder Jon Klipstein and science reviewer Onur Oncer. The three of them spent off-duty hours at the gym, at Green Beans Coffee (if you know, you know), and building the kind of brotherhood that doesn’t end when the deployment does. That brotherhood is the foundation of Die Tryin Co. itself.

CULINARY BACKGROUND

David's culinary journey started in high school, working in mom-and-pop kitchens and fast-food restaurants. Through adulthood he’s worked the line at national chains (Chili’s, Eegee’s) and inside golf-resort kitchens — environments that span from high-volume short-order cooking to white-tablecloth resort service.

He completed formal culinary training and finished at the top of his class. The combination of formal training plus years on the actual line is what shapes his recipe work for Die Tryin Co.: recipes that taste like real food, not protein shakes pretending to be desserts. If a recipe doesn’t hold up at a table full of family, it doesn’t go in a DTC post.

TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

Favorite training days: back and leg day. David trains for strength and function rather than chasing aesthetics — the same approach that runs through every Die Tryin Co. recipe he develops: nutrition that supports real training, not Instagram trends.

DAVID’S ROLE AT DIE TRYIN CO.

David leads recipe development for Die Tryin Co.’s nutrition content — protein-boosted desserts, athlete meals, post-training fuel, and seasonal recipes. Every recipe goes through his kitchen before it goes on the site. If the macros are off, the technique is broken, or the flavor doesn’t land, he sends it back to the drawing board.

EXPERIENCE

• U.S. Army Combat Veteran — served in the same unit as Jon Klipstein & Onur Oncer
• Culinary-trained recipe developer — formal training, top of class
• Restaurant kitchen experience — mom-and-pop kitchens, national chains (Chili’s, Eegee’s), golf-resort kitchens
• Recipe development lead for Die Tryin Co. nutrition content

MORE FROM DIE TRYIN CO.

• Meet The Founder (Jon Klipstein)
• Meet The Featured Athlete (Chelsea Rodgers, IFBB Pro)
• Meet The Featured Athlete (Garrett Ussery, NASM-CPT)
• Meet The Science Reviewer (Onur Oncer)
• About The Brand
• Read The Knowledge Blog
• Shop Supplements
• Take The Quiz

ALWAYS FORWARD.