DAVID LEIVA

Economic Forecaster

Prior to joining CRES, David was an economic recovery advisor for the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency and an economic development consultant. David is also a former award-winning business journalist at The Annapolis Capital of Maryland and started his career with The Associated Press. A New Orleans native, David holds degrees, certificates, and fellowships from Loyola University in New Orleans, Tulane University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Naval War College. He is currently a doctoral student studying international economics in the International Development Program at USM. Last year, he was awarded a two-year scholarship by the National Guard Association of Mississippi to complete his studies. David continues to serve in the armed forces and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is currently the Director of Personnel and Community Activities at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, the second largest Army National Guard installation in the United States, where more than 50,000 service members of all branches train annually along with select members of Other Government Agencies. David has been credited with major economic development projects, including the Port of Gulfport designation as the nation’s 17th Strategic Seaport by the U.S. Department of Defense. When utilized, the designation is valued at $150 million annually. https://www.usm.edu/news/2013/release/southern-miss-soldier-students-organize-strategic-port-symposium-gulfport.php https://shipmspa.com/port-of-gulfport-receives-strategic-seaport-designation/ https://www.wlox.com/2020/08/13/big-ship-part-big-mission-port-gulfport-strategic-seaport/ In 2015, he presented at the Army Operations Research Symposium on a workforce deployment management model he co-developed at U.S. Army Central Command. He was the only member of the National Guard to present at the annual event that brings the Army’s top mathematicians and statisticians together at Fort Detrick, MD. https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/State-Partnership-Program/Article/632661/researchers-reserve-component-soldiers-in-theater-should-fill-in-theater-vacanc/ David also serves an adjunct assistant professor of economics at the University of Maryland Global Campus and teaches disaster leadership at the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. He resides in Daytona Beach, FL, where he enjoys sailing, skydiving, and NASCAR.