Meet the ACNSL Team

Dave’s diverse career has included extensive experience in the defense sector from the perspective of the military, where he served thirty-two years, and reached the rank of Rear Admiral,: industry, where he became the Chief Operating Officer of what has subsequently become Airbus, North America; and government where he served as a senate-confirmed political appointee. Before entering industry, Dave graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served during the Cold War aboard submarines located in several locations including Mare Island and San Diego. While in San Diego his wife graduated from law school and passed the California Bar. Dave then operated the Allied submarines against the Soviet Union as the Commander of Submarine Group Seven in Yokosuka, Japan followed by duty as Chief of Staff of the Seventh Fleet. Following selection for the rank of admiral he became responsible for plans and policy in the Pentagon and then for training the attack submarines on the West Coast as Commander, Submarine Group Five in San Diego. He returned to the Pentagon to become responsible for the Navy Program (budget) during the four transition years following the Cold War. He served as the Principal Deputy, Acquisition, Research and Logistics before retiring in 1995. Dave’s active duty decorations include the Defense and Navy Distinguished Service Medals as well as six awards of the Legion of Merit. After working as an executive at Westinghouse and Northrop Grumman, Dave was appointed by President Clinton as Principal Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the fifth senior person in the Defense Department. Subsequently, after Dave left government and ran his own business for two years, President Bush appointed him as the Director of Management and Budget for the Coalition Forces in Iraq as well as the and special advisor for the Iraqi Finance Minister. When he returned from Iraq, Dave worked to increase international ties, serving as the Chief Operating Officer of much of the United States organization of Airbus. His public service awards include the Bronze Palm (2nd award) to the Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Public Service as well as the Army and the Navy Public Service Awards. Dave is the published author of Making it in Washington, as well as two leadership books, Lead On, and Against the Tide, the story of Admiral Rickover’s establishment of culture change in the Navy. He has also written his wife’s biography, “Wide Blue Ribbon.” Dave and his wife, Linda, live in Trinidad, CaliforniaExecutive Committee ChairRear Admiral, USN (ret)