Vice President of Government & Public Affairs Candidate - Dave Neff

Headshot for Dave NeffDave Neff serves as the Maritime Market Director at Woolpert, Inc., where he leads national and international hydrographic survey initiatives. With a career rooted in private sector innovation, Dave brings over two decades of experience in diverse geospatial data integration. His leadership spans complex marine mapping programs for NOAA, USACE, and other federal clients, with a focus on modernizing methodologies through autonomous platforms and integrated marine services.

Candidate Qualifications

  • Industry Perspective: Mr. Neff brings a unique lens from the private sector, complementing MTS’s traditional government and academic representation.
  • Policy Fluency: Mr. Neff works closely and regularly with Woolpert’s government affairs team and understands the legislative process, enabling effective advocacy and strategic positioning.
  • Mission-Driven Leadership: Mr. Neff is committed to advancing marine technology through practical, scalable solutions that support national resilience and innovation.

Core Strengths

  • Private Sector Leadership: Proven success in building and scaling maritime operations within a competitive commercial environment.
  • Technical Strategy & Innovation: Expertise in deploying cutting-edge technologies for marine data acquisition and analysis.
  • Federal Contracting Insight: Deep understanding of government procurement, compliance, and mission alignment.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Track record of cultivating cross-sector collaborations that drive innovation and operational excellence.

Indicate one or two key goals that you hope to accomplish in this position over the next 3 years:
1) Bridge Public-Private-Academic Collaboration
I seek to champion initiatives that connect MTS members across government, academia, and industry to foster shared research, workforce development, and policy alignment.

2) Elevate Policy Engagement & Advocacy
I wish to lead efforts to increase MTS’s visibility in legislative and regulatory arenas, advocating for science-based decision-making and sustainable marine innovation.

3) Promote Operational Relevance
I plan to ensure MTS remains responsive to evolving maritime challenges by integrating real-world operational insights into policy discussions and strategic planning.

Discuss the qualities and experience you possess that make you a strong candidate for the position for which you are running:
With a background in federal contracting and supporting the US Government in maritime technologies and services, I will aim to elevate MTS's role in shaping marine-related policy by promoting awareness of legislative and regulatory developments, and by advocating for science-based decision-making that supports innovation and sustainability.