David W. Walker

David W. Walker was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes in July 2012. He has been a member of the Coalition’s Board of Directors since 2005 and served as its Chairman from 2009 to 2014.

Before joining the Coalition as CEO, Mr. Walker spent seven years as Vice President of Association Services at the National Glass Association (NGA) and member of the Senior Management Committee, based in McLean, VA. NGA is the largest and most influential trade association representing the architectural glass, automotive glass, and window and door industries. Prior to his time at the NGA, Mr. Walker worked for 21 years at the National Association of Manufacturers, eventually becoming its Vice President of Marketing & Member Services and member of the Senior Management Committee.

Mr. Walker is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and earned his MBA with highest honors from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He also completed the Innovative Leadership Executive Management Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Management.

In April 2022, Mr. Walker was honored with the inaugural Frank Prautzsch Lifetime Achievement Award for his public service to the veterans community. The award, presented at the 7th Annual Veterans Awards (known as the “Vettys”), recognized his exceptional record of civic and charitable contributions.

In 2019, Mr. Walker received the prestigious Cavanaugh Award from Notre Dame. The Rev. John J. Cavanaugh C.S.C. Award, established in 1985, is given to alumni who have made outstanding contributions in areas such as government, patriotism, public service, and politics. Mr. Walker’s work with the Coalition was central to this recognition.

Under his leadership, the Coalition has been recognized by the Better Business Bureau as one of the nation’s top Veterans Service Organizations for ten consecutive years. It was also ranked among the Top 5 organizations on The NonProfit Times 2022 list of Best Nonprofits to Work For.