President Obama appointed Rev. David L. Myers in May 2009 to be the director of the Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in May 2009. How does a former pastor of Mennonite congregations with no experience in politics, and after leaving church ministry, led homeless programs in Chicago, become a presidential appointee? Myers will take a quick tour through his professional life and how one thing did NOT obviously lead to the next.

The Rev. David L. Myers directs the Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The center develops relationships, builds bridges, and partnership opportunities between DHS & FEMA programs and faith-based and community organizations, specifically among ethnic, cultural, and religious minority communities and traditions. He also serves as Senior Advisor to FEMA Administrator, Mr. Craig Fugate. Prior to his appointment, David led congregations, faith-based, and community organizations for more than 25 years, and served on a number of national, state, and city boards and committees. David is a father and grandfather, an ordained Mennonite minister, with a M.Div. from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and a B.S. from Portland State University.