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David R. Smith, executive director of the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP), oversees services provided to high growth entrepreneurs willing to locate to North Louisiana. In EAP’s first five years, the program screened just under 900 companies and entrepreneurs, provided services to 284 and helped its portfolio companies create more than 240 jobs. Those companies have received just under $100 million in funding and other capital investment from North Louisiana and around the United States.

Dave has 32 years of extensive experience in government contracts and initiatives, university technology transfer, and early-stage technology development. He has proven leadership in managing multimillion-dollar government, industry, and academia collaborations and consortia, and has led all aspects of business development, including the development of strategic business direction, pricing, product channel development and marketing. As a senior military intelligence officer and successful business developer, he led the development and launch of consumer technology product lines, assessing the cost and revenue implications of key market strategies. As Chief of Deployment Services Division at NSA, Dave directed deployment and operations of a 600-person joint national intelligence support organization in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He has over 24 years of service as a U.S. Army Officer and is highly decorated having received numerous medals to include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service, Joint Service Commendation, Army Commendation, Joint Achievement, Army Achievement, Global war on Terrorism Service, National Defense Service, and various ribbons.

Dave received a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Military Science from the University of Louisiana, Monroe, is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and received a Master of Science in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.