Biography

David is a Texas Registered Professional Land Surveyor and Licensed State Land Surveyor for the State of Texas, serving as the Chief of Survey of the Texas Military Department at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas since October 2008. He began his surveying career in 1982 as a geodetic surveyor in the U.S. Army after graduating from the Defense Mapping Agency and was assigned to the 82nd Survey Company, 30th Topographic Engineer Battalion (Topographic-Army), Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

In 1984, David received a commission as a second lieutenant after graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He returned to Fort Belvoir to attend the Engineer Officer Basic Course and was taught civil engineering, horizontal and vertical construction, and explosives demolition. Upon graduation, David was assigned as a platoon leader in Company C, 65th Combat Engineer, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and served as the Task Force Engineer to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment in the Republic of the Philippines.

Upon fulfilling his active-duty obligation, David transferred to the Army Reserves and moved to Maine to work as a surveyor. In 1987, he returned to Fort Belvoir to attend the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, receiving additional civil engineer schooling. Upon graduation, David returned to Texas and worked as the Building Official for the City of The Colony. In 1988, he volunteered for the U.S. Army Special Forces and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning the coveted Green Beret. From 1992 to 2007, David’s full-time jobs outside of the Army Reserves consisted of survey technician, field instrument operator, party chief, project manager, and Registered Professional Land Surveyor.

In 1995, David deployed to the Republic of Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. When the events of 9/11 unfolded, David deployed with Company C, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) to combat operations in Afghanistan in 2002. Upon his return, he was selected to be a SEAL Advanced Training Instructor and Program Manager of the Navy’s first Advanced Special Operations training program at Coronado, California from 2003 to 2005.

In 1998, David graduated with a Master of Science degree in aquatic biology (emphasis in limnology) with thesis from the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas.

In 2004, David took a hiatus from Naval Special Warfare Command and volunteered for a six-month combat deployment in Iraq with a Special Missions Unit named Task Force 6-26. He returned to Coronado, California and finished out his Naval Special Command tour and returned home to Texas to resume his surveying career. In 2010, he volunteered for combat duty with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) to oversee Special Activities in eastern Afghanistan.

In 2017, after 35 years of service, David retired from the Army as a Green Beret, having served in Special Forces for 30 years. His numerous overseas operations include the Republic of the Philippines, Central and South America, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Kingdom of Cambodia, United Kingdom, Germany, North and Equatorial Africa.

In 2018, David became a Licensed State Land Surveyor for the State of Texas and works in that capacity at the Texas Military Department today as Agent for the State.

David is a member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where he serves on the Permanent Board of Editors of the Journal of Surveying Engineering and was awarded ASCE Outstanding Reviewer in 2022, 2016, and 2013.

In 2023, David was elected Fellow, ASCE.