Raised in Service
Raised in Service
About Dave
About Dave
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From a service oriented military family
Dave learned about duty to country and the value of service to others growing up in a military family. A formative experience was during his eighth and ninth grade years – when his dad, an Air Force pilot, helped transport refugees from Saigon to Clark Air Base (Philippines) during the final days of the Vietnam war and Dave and his mom helped with the refugee centers at the base. Dave saw the value of assistance to people with nothing who were able to relocate to the US and become participating and contributing citizens to America.
Dave also learned the value of America investing in its own citizens. The GI bill helped his dad get a master’s degree in business and his veteran’s benefits helped him purchase his first home. Dave’s first 'paycheck' job was funded by a USAF program to help dependent kids have opportunities for work in a foreign country – he worked managing tools for aircraft mechanics on the flight line at the base.
He continued that work ethic through college by developing a house painting business with his brother to support himself and wife – along with an Air Force ROTC scholarship that enabled him to earn a mechanical engineering degree. The Air Force further invested in his education by sending him to graduate school for an Industrial engineering degree. And like his dad – Dave was able to purchase a home with a VA loan helping to keep the down payment low.
Dave served in the Air Force leading the development and support of USAF aircraft and related systems. He completed active duty at Hill AFB in Utah, supporting fighter aircraft - including certification as an aircraft battle damage engineer. After active duty, he worked as a business developer for two small companies and then joined a not-for-profit research institute that provides engineering services for the Air Force with the goal of extending the life of systems and aircraft. A key help for Dave and his family are the medical benefits from the Air Force that continued with them – independent of his post Air Force employers. Dave knows first-hand the value of a single payer health system.
Involved with community
Wherever he lived, Dave has been involved with the local community. He was a Boy Scouts of America trained scoutmaster in Ohio, Texas and Utah. He coached youth soccer in Virginia and Utah; he also officiated youth soccer in Utah.
In the Air Force, he was selected as the Hill AFB voting officer during a time of intense political interest in military absentee ballots. In this "extra duty" he oversaw voter information programs for every unit assigned to the base to ensure over 5,000 military personnel and their spouses had access to their state ballots. He reported directly to the center vice-commander and even provided a progress update directly to a visiting undersecretary of the Air Force.
After active duty, he served on the board of an Air Force Association chapter that supports active duty and veteran Air Force personnel as well as the Ogden Veterans Home. He also started attending the neighborhood republican caucus in Davis County and was elected a county delegate. He fought against the Trump campaign during the 2016 primaries and quit the GOP the day after it nominated Trump for president.
Dave was on his neighborhood homeowners association board and currently volunteers with the Natural History Museum of Utah. At NHMU, he supports their open houses and behind the scenes programs that encourage community engagement with the museum and its artifacts. He has also participated in two NHMU paleo digs on BLM land in southern Utah.
Dave and Julie are residents of Washington Terrace and have raised five children.
Follow Dave's BlueSky and Facebook accounts to learn more about him (see links at the top or bottom of each page.