On Friday, July 18, David Jones began his tenure as the leader of the Sarpy County Election Commission, an office that administers elections for more than 130,000 registered voters.
He was appointed to the position this week, following the April departure of Emily Ethington.
Jones, of Papillion, brings two decades of leadership experience in the military and private sector. He specializes in project management, digital operations, and strategic coordination.
“I’m honored to return to public service and lead an office that gives voters the opportunity to ensure their voice is heard through a safe and secure election process,” Jones said. “I’ve been impressed with Election Commission operations at the state and local level and look forward to immersing myself in the environment so we can continue to improve the voting experience. Thank you to Gov. Pillen and his team and the people at Sarpy County for your trust.”
An Air Force Academy graduate, Jones’ career began as a navigator with the U.S. Air Force where he served in multiple roles, including deputy director of staff for the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base. Among his proudest accomplishments was being entrusted as Lead Navigator to fly national leaders, including the Secretaries of Defense and State and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the private sector, Jones was operations manager for MacAulay-Brown, Inc. in Ohio, where he oversaw a $147 million defense program. Most recently, Jones worked for Gallup in Omaha.
“David is a proven leader whose executive experience and military background showcase his commitment to working in service of others,” said Sarpy County Commissioner and Board Chair David Klug. “We’re looking forward to supporting him as he and the Election Commission Office continue the invaluable work of facilitating efficient, free and secure elections for Sarpy County voters.”
Pillen appointed Jones to the position following Ethington’s resignation in April. Per state law, the Governor appoints election commissioners for counties with a population of more than 100,000 people, which includes Sarpy County.
The Election Commissioner’s Office is responsible for maintaining the Sarpy County Voter Registration Database, accepting certain candidate filing forms, and conducting elections in Sarpy County.
