SCHOLARS

DAVID DAUPHINAIS
U.S. Navy | Harvard University | Master of Public Administration
Dartmouth University | Master of Business Administration
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“I believe military service is our nation’s best incubator for young
leaders.”
Among the last class of officers to have sworn the oath of service before 9/11, David
joined the Navy motivated by the desire to be a part of something bigger than himself.
In the decade since, his military service has given him the confidence to look past his
fear of failure or the unknown.
As his active-duty career comes to a close, David credits the Navy with indelibly
shaping his leadership ability and passion for public service. In training, he learned to
build trust with his boat crew through shared struggle. He later saw firsthand the value
of remaining calm under pressure as a combat leader. As a staff officer, he learned to
stoke the effectiveness of a diverse team by communicating openly, providing clarity
of purpose and remaining accountable.
Now, with national security still in mind, David is pursuing both an MBA and Master
of Public Policy with concentrations in energy and behavioral economics. Although
the advent of hydraulic fracturing and lateral drilling has shifted perceptions of U.S.
energy security, he believes transmission infrastructure, degrading nuclear weapons
material, and severe pipeline inefficiencies require more innovative public-private
solutions. In the years ahead, he hopes to work with the Pentagon’s Operational
Energy Plans and Programs Office and the National Nuclear Security Administration to
implement better energy security practices across the U.S. government and private
sector.
Class of 2015