Dave grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, attended Michigan State University and received a degree in accounting. Upon graduation, he worked for a Certified Public Accounting firm for 2 years before he joined the Air Force. In the Air Force he was stationed at 8 bases including 3 overseas assignments and one school assignment from which he received a Masters Degree in Logistics Management. He served a total of 21 years in inventory management in the Air Force.

After the Air Force, he worked for Computer Sciences Corp. for 14 years and then as a contractor for several years working on Army training management contracts before retiring.

Dave enjoys sailing and has sailed extensively in the US and the Caribbean among other locations. He is on the board of Key West Community Sailing Center as well as that of One Island Family Church.