Bio

David is recognized globally for his wildfire mitigation expertise and has more than four decades of utility experience, including being involved with almost all aspects of utility operations. He was the primary architect in the utility wildfire prevention program in San Diego County which is world-renowned for its effectiveness and most importantly there has not been a utility-caused catastrophic wildfire in San Diego County for the last 13 years. The knowledge that David has acquired through the development and implementation of these programs is directly transferable to other utility service territories and when strategically combined with the unique characteristics of the individual service territory, it can make a significant improvement in the overall safety of the region. David brings a track record of pinpointing business requirements, driving innovative solutions, and selling value-driven solutions to minimize wildfire risk. Areas of expertise include: GOVERNANCE/STRATEGIC Provide regulatory and compliance strategies for wildfire mitigation programs. Prioritize resources to maximize effectiveness and provide public safety power shutoff (PSPS) improvement strategies. Create effective customer communications and resiliency during wildfire conditions. Build and expand external relationships and key partnerships. Develop processes to ensure financial resources are allocated to maximize risk reduction. TECHNICAL/TACTICAL Provide leadership in system hardening, vegetation management, inspection, and maintenance programs. Heighten situational awareness from weather stations and camera networks. Improve aviation services and grid/distribution control center operations during PSPS events. Review advanced electrical protection schemes and expand the use of AI to improve decision-making for wildfire risk reduction. UTILITY OPERATIONS Enhance employee safety culture by developing employee peer programs and expand the use of leading indicators. Improve system reliability through the use of AI tools and asset management data. Drive alignment between IT/OT organizations through innovation and common goals. As a respected leader in the industry, David has strong relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies, community and customer business partners, industry associations, employees, and union leadership. He is a persuasive innovator and influential communicator with strong analytical and presentation skills. David is a change agent known for his ability to achieve measurable business objectives.