Dave, WD5COV, is a Life member of the ARRL and has been a ham for 39  years. Dave has contributed to the New Mexico and greater amateur-radio communities in several ways. Most notably, he has devoted his  time, funding, and passion towards activating several DX entities, some  of them extremely rare, as a member of their DXpedition teams. These  activations have included 3D2R (Rotuma Island) in 2011, 7O6T (Yemen) in  2012, 3D2C (Conway Reef) in 2012, E30FB (Eritrea) 2015, VP8STI (South  Sandwich Island) in 2016, and VP8SGI (South Georgia Island) in 2016.  

Dave serves as Treasurer and CFO of the Intrepid DX Group, whose mission  entails, among other things, conducting and supporting amateur radio expeditions, conducting scientific research exploring electromagnetic-wave propagation, and promoting interest and proficiency in amateur-radio communications with respect to improving operating and technical  skills. Dave is also a Life member of the International DX Association, a non-profit organization devoted to enhancing amateur  radio, worldwide peace, and friendship. He founded the Mimbres Valley  Radio Club, based in the Deming, New Mexico, area in 2010. Through  Dave's leadership and support, the club has sponsored plaque awards for the New  Mexico QSO Party since at least 2012.

Dave has mentored many hams and  shared his knowledge of DXing and operating skill by conducting  presentations at ham radio events including the ARRL New Mexico State  Convention (Albuquerque Duke City Hamfest) and the ARRL Rocky Mountain  Division Convention. Dave is devoted to DXing, enabling others to log  rare entities, and teaching others to become great operators. In 2016, Dave received the ARRL's New Mexico Section Ham of the Year award.