Colonel David Belote, USAF (Ret.), is the Managing Partner and CEO of DARE Strategies LLC, helping clients successfully navigate issues at the nexus of renewable energy and national defense. In 2010, Dave founded the Pentagon’s Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse and created the process that allows local officials, industry, and military leaders to assess mission compatibility of a wide range of energy and transmission projects. Dave later served as Vice President for Federal Business at Apex Clean Energy, then advocated for Federal- and state-level energy and defense policy as Senior Vice President of Cassidy and Associates. He has since facilitated the permitting of 36 projects comprising 9.4 gigawatts of wind power while protecting critical military capabilities, including the two largest single-phase wind projects in the US: Apex’s 525-MW Aviator project in Texas and Pattern Energy’s 1050-MW Western Spirit project in New Mexico.
Recognized by the Obama Administration as a White House Champion of Change: Veterans Advancing Clean Energy and Climate Security in 2013, Dave is using his Federal experience to help develop offshore wind projects off both coasts, as well as the SunZia high-voltage transmission project across New Mexico and Arizona.
A retired Air Force colonel and F-16 pilot who earned two Bronze Stars during Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as commander of Nellis Air Force Base, Dave continued his commitment to public service by running (albeit unsuccessfully) to represent his hometown in the Virginia State Senate and currently serves as vice chair of the Virginia Beach Electoral Board. He also serves on the boards of the Southeastern Wind Coalition and Eggleston, Inc. (a non-profit employer of special-needs adults). He is also a five-time Jeopardy! champion.