Rear Admiral David Mercer, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Rear Admiral David Mercer has decades of experience in international leadership and business development, organizational change, and project execution. Focusing primarily on Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, he has provided consulting services aimed at gaining competitive advantage in the global marketplace for clients in defense, aerospace/aviation, cybersecurity/5G, and new technology.
During his 37-year military career, David distinguished himself through his leadership in some of the most challenging moments in recent history. Since graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1978, David has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to enter complex, sometimes troubled situations, quickly identify key performance drivers, and then achieve rapid, collaborative success.
On September 11, 2001, David was in the Indian Ocean commanding Carrier Air Wing EIGHT (CVW-8) aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65). Three weeks later, while piloting an F/A-18C Rear Admiral Mercer led the first of numerous airborne strikes against terrorist targets in Afghanistan. For his leadership in combat, and for his innovative approach to the unique challenges in this theater of operations, David was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal with combat “V” for valor.
From 2006-2008, David served as director of the Chief of Naval Operations-chartered think tank, DEEP BLUE. As leader of this strategically focused group of warfare, intelligence, and fiscal experts, he authored a comprehensive “Dominance Study” which provided a blueprint that ensured continued operational excellence of U.S. Naval forces in the face of shrinking budgets. He also developed an organizational and implementation plan which optimized support by conventional Navy forces to Irregular Warfare, which significantly improved the U.S. Navy’s worldwide performance in counter-terrorism operations.
Extensive NATO experience: from 2008-2010 Rear Admiral Mercer served in Naples, Italy as Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (U.S. Command), and Commander, Maritime Air Naples (NATO Command). Providing support to Joint Force Command, Naples, U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Central Command, David led multinational military forces spread across three continents.
From 2002-2006, Rear Admiral Mercer served in Mons, Belgium as the Executive Officer to General James L. Jones, USMC; Supreme Allied Commander, Europe/Commander U.S. European Command.
After completion of his Navy career which included over 4,500 flight hours piloting F-18, F-14 and A-6 aircraft, and 1,340 carrier arrested landings, Rear Admiral Mercer retired from the U.S. Navy and entered the private sector in September 2011.
More than a successful combat leader, Rear Admiral Mercer is an experienced senior military officer with unprecedented accomplishments in leadership, management, diplomacy, creativity, decision-making and innovation. Focused on the strategic level, he has a respected reputation for written and verbal communication skills, leading change, and the ability to inspire commitment. At the practical level, he has a proven ability to increase performance while decreasing costs. From new technologies to shifting geo-political realities, his insights and advice are invaluable and always achieve positive results.
