The official website of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council

Council Staff - Dave Gilliland

David E. Gilliland Director of Administration

David E. Gilliland serves as the Director of Administration of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council). Created by the RESTORE Act of 2012 and comprised of the Governors of the five Gulf Coast States and Cabinet-level officials from six federal agencies, the RESTORE Council is responsible for restoring and protecting the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast. He is responsible for managing critical agency business functions to support the agency.  His main responsibilities include Human Resources Officer, Interagency Agreements, Agency Records Management Officer, Enterprise Risk Management Officer, contracting and purchase card procurement, agency travel, and critical payroll and contracting systems support. 

Prior to this position, Gilliland served as the Comptroller and Director of Resources for the Naval Oceanographic office Headquartered at Stennis Space Center, MS. In this position, Gilliland managed the fiscal resources, payroll, travel, and Contracting Departments for this large Navy command with a budget of $2.2B in current and FYDP dollars. As a Department Head, he was on numerous management boards, including the Process Steering Group Chair in which he managed complex process improvement actions. His office supported and enabled worldwide ocean modeling products, autonomous underwater vehicle development, and worldwide bathymetric and hydrographic survey operations with six forward deployed USNS ships. These ship operations were directed by Unified Combatant Commander priorities.

Prior to this position, Gilliland was the Chief Financial Officer for Eventure Technologies in New Orleans, LA. This company currently is the prime Contractor for Navy HR systems software development. This contract is with the Navy Space and Warfare Command (SPAWAR)located at the UNO Lake Front Technology Center in New Orleans, LA Prior to this position, Gilliland served as an active duty Navy Supply Officer and retired after 21 years of service. His tours of duty included Material Management Command Commanding Officer Phoenix Base FOB, Bagdad, Iraq; Head of Material Management for U.S. Central Command Forward, Doha, Qatar; Comptroller, Fleet Supply Center, Yokosuka, Japan; Supply Officer USS Harold E Holt FF1074, Pearl Harbor, HI; Supply Department Head USS Henry M. Jackson SSBN 730 Gold, Bangor, WA; and numerous other tours in the continental U.S. Gilliland has received numerous awards, including the Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Service Citation, Joint Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement. He is a Certified Defense Financial Manager and maintains a DOD Financial Management Certification Level III, OPM HR DEU certification, NARA Records Management Officer Certification, and COR level II contracting certification. 

Gilliland holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida. Gilliland is originally from Longwood, Florida. He is the proud father of four daughters and one granddaughter. He and his wife live in Mandeville, LA.