Ruth A. David

Ruth A. David (born 1953) is an American engineer. While at the CIA, David was responsible for encouraging the agency to pursue partnerships with the private sector and designed a proposal to procure technology at the stage of development from the private sector. She has been awarded the CIA Director's Award, the Defense Intelligence Agency Director's Award, the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the National Reconnaissance Officer's Award for Distinguished Service, and the National Security Agency Distinguished Service Medal.

Ruth A. David
Born (1953-05-13) May 13, 1953
Arkansas City, Kansas
NationalityAmerican
Occupationelectrical engineer
Years active1975-present
Known forreorganizing the CIA intelligence technology system
Spouse(s)Stanley E. Dains

Early life

Ruth A. David was born on May 13, 1953, in Arkansas City, Kansas.[1] After attaining a BS in electrical engineering from Wichita State University in 1975, she went on to earn a master's in 1976 and PhD in 1981 in electrical engineering from Stanford University.[2]

Career

David began her career in 1975 holding several positions at the Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[2] She served as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico teaching adaptive and digital signal, digital and microprocessor system design, and linear least-squares estimation.[1] In 1986, she was employed as the supervisor of the Data Systems Development Organization, responsible for developing a remote controlled digital system for deployment of underground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site. Three years later she transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration managing the Department of Non-Destructive Test, Electromagnetic Test and Optics program on aging aircraft.[3]

Between 1991 and 1994, David was Director of the Development Testing Center, supervising a broad spectrum of engineering test facilities.[2] In 1995, she was appointed Deputy Director for Science and Technology of the Central Intelligence Agency and became responsible for advising the agency on science and technology.[3] In this capacity, she proposed a radical new approach for the agency to deal with the swift growth in information with the internet revolution. Rather than procuring technology after it was developed, David and her deputy, Joanne Isham recognized and pushed for the agency to pursue partnerships within the private sector. As technology was advancing far faster than the government bureaucracy procurement program could secure new innovation, they proposed that technology be obtained at the stage of development from the private sector.[4][5] She recommended utilizing technology to streamline processes and move away from simply collecting data toward a more analytical and leveraged position of disseminating and exploiting information.[5]

In 1998, when David left the CIA, she was awarded the CIA Director's Award, the Defense Intelligence Agency Director's Award, the CIA Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the National Reconnaissance Officer's Award for Distinguished Service, and the National Security Agency Distinguished Service Medal.[6][7] That same year, David joined ANSER (formerly Analytic Services, Inc.) as its President and Chief Executive Officer. At ANSER, she provided analysis and research as a public service for national and transnational security issues. In 1999, she developed Homeland Defense Strategic Thrust to focus research into internal and external terrorist entities and hostile nations and expanded the department to the ANSER Institute of Homeland Security in 2001 to provide public awareness and education on national security.[6]

In 2010, David was inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame.[8] She was appointed by President Obama as a member of the National Science Board and National Science Foundation in 2012.[9] David retired from ANSER in 2015.[7]

References

Citations
  1. Synergy 2000.
  2. Bloomberg 2016.
  3. Society of Women Engineers 1998, p. 2.
  4. Vankin 2001.
  5. Ackerman 1996.
  6. MIT 2004.
  7. National Science Foundation 2016.
  8. Women in Technology International Hall of Fame 2010.
  9. White House 2012.

Bibliography
  • Ackerman, Robert K. (April 1996). "Vital Intelligence Technologies Converge on Information Systems". Signal Magazine. Fairfax, Virginia: Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. Archived from the original on February 20, 1999.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  • Vankin, Jonathan (March 29, 2001). "The Spy Who Funded Me". San Jose, California: Metroactive. Archived from the original on March 13, 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • "Dr. Ruth David". Sherman Oaks, California: Women in Technology International Hall of Fame. 2010. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  • "Dr. Ruth A. David". Cambridge, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2004. Archived from the original on August 17, 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  • "Dr. Ruth A. David". Irvine, California: Synergy Inc. 2000. Archived from the original on December 19, 2000. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  • "Our guest speaker on May 19th will be: Dr. Ruth A. David, Deputy Director for Science and Technology for the Central Intelligence Agency" (PDF). National Career Centers Newsletter. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Society of Women Engineers Philadelphia Section. May 1998. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  • "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". Washington, D.C.: The White House Press Secretary. December 20, 2012. Archived from the original on November 9, 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  • "Ruth David". Arlington, Virginia: National Science Foundation. 2016. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  • "Ruth A. David Ph.D." New York City, New York: Bloomberg. 2016. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
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