David Jansen brings nearly 30 years of executive and legislative branch experience overseeing the budgets for and implementation of national policies regarding maritime transportation; national security; and ocean, coastal, and wildlife science, conservation, and management to Blank Rome Government Relations LLC.

David has extensive knowledge of the federal budget and congressional appropriations processes, and a proven ability to engage successfully with policymakers, corporate leaders, industry stakeholders, and academia to build awareness and support for complex security, science, and natural resource initiatives. He also has a demonstrated record of legislative achievement, including passage of several annual Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Authorization Acts and numerous other bills advancing resource conservation, management, science, and technology innovation.

Prior to joining Blank Rome, David served as the Democratic Staff Director for the Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, in the U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2021). In this role, he oversaw all aspects of subcommittee policy and legislative business, including issue research and stakeholder engagement; drafting legislation; preparation of materials and organization for all hearings and markups; and drafting of speeches, statements, and correspondence. Further, he conducted oversight of annual budgets totaling over $13 billion annually for three federal maritime agencies, advanced authorization of the first recapitalization of the Coast Guard’s polar icebreaker fleet in 40 years, and coordinated the establishment of the Coast Guard’s Blue Technology Center of Expertise.

David notably worked across the aisle to raise awareness and increase appropriations for several important maritime programs, including the Maritime Security Program, the Small Shipyard Grant Program, the Port Infrastructure Development Program, and the authorization to construct a new fleet of National Security Multi-Mission Training vessels for state maritime academies. He successfully built bipartisan support for passage of the first legislation to amend the Shipping Reform Act in 20 years to strengthen the Federal Maritime Commission’s anti-trust enforcement authority to ensure fair shipping practices in the $980 billion international ocean transportation industry.

Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, David was a Congressional Affairs Specialist (1994–1999) for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (“NOAA”), serving as a NOAA liaison with the U.S. Congress where he was responsible for NOAA’s Coastal Zone Management, National Marine Sanctuaries, and National Estuarine Research Reserve programs. He also worked on NOAA’s budget initiatives to address impacts caused by aquatic nuisance species and to help strengthen coral reef conservation and management.

David earned his Master of Marine Affairs degree, with a focus on Ocean and Coastal Policy and Management, from the University of Washington. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree, with a focus on Wetland Science & Wildlife Management, from the University of Rhode Island.