David Mays

David Mays is a military fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He joined CSIS from the Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, where he served as deputy group commander for the 81st Mission Support Group. In his 27 years of military service, he has served in a variety of positions including division chief for both the Operations and Development Divisions at the Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) at the U.S. Air Force Academy and squadron commander at the 49th Security Forces Squadron, 422nd Security Forces Squadron, and 90th Security Support Squadron. Additionally, he served as operations officer and convoy commander at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota; staff officer and executive officer at Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; and chief, security forces, at Ghedi Air Base in Italy. He also spent six years enlisted both for the Army National Guard and as a law enforcement specialist in the Air Force. Colonel Mays holds a doctorate degree in business/homeland defense from Northcentral University; an MBA from Embry-Riddle; a Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Joint Warfare, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Auburn University.