Former DOD Official David Norquist to Become NDIA President, CEO

David Norquist, former deputy secretary at the Department of Defense, has been appointed president and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association in a move that takes effect May 1.

NDIA said Thursday James Boozer, the trade group’s executive vice president, will assume leadership of the association on an acting basis before Norquist officially takes the helm.

Norquist, a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, will succeed Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, a retired Air Force general who led NDIA for nearly five years and announced his departure plans in early March.

“David is capable from day one to continue enhancing the industry-government relationship that is essential to supporting the warfighter and the taxpayer,” said Arnold Punaro, NDIA chairman and a previous Wash100 winner.

The association identified its next leader after a comprehensive search process in partnership with executive search firm Russell Reynolds.

Norquist temporarily led DOD as acting defense secretary in the early days of the Biden administration and previously served as the Pentagon’s comptroller.

His government service has also included time as program budget analyst at the Department of the Army, a professional staff member on the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee and chief financial officer at the Department of Homeland Security.

He worked as a partner at accounting firm Kearney & Co.

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