Chairman 2018
Vice Chairman 2017
Re-elected 2018
Elected to the Board of Regents 2014
Appointed to Board of Regents by Governor David Heineman on March 20, 2013
Public Service
- Appointed to University of Nebraska Board of Regents by Governor David Heineman on March 20, 2013
- Elected to University of Nebraska Board of Regents, District 5 on November 4, 2014
- Reelected on November 6, 2018
- Served as Vice Chair in 2017 and Chair in 2018
- Currently serving as Board Vice Chair and Chair of Business and Finance Committee
Personal and Professional
- Born in Pawnee City, Nebraska on January 27, 1968
- Married to Andrea Darling, two children—Brooklyn and Addison
- Smith Schafer David Gaertig LLC; Managing Partner
- Practice Areas: Agricultural Law, Banking and Corporate Law, Estate, Planning, Probate, Real Estate Law and Taxation
- Farm Real Estate and Livestock Owner/Operator
- Premier GM Beatrice – Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC Auto Dealership/Owner
- Kansas Air National Guard – Staff Judge Advocate, Lieutenant Colonel
Education
- University of Nebraska College of Law, Juris Doctor, 1996
- University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Bachelor of Science, Business, 1991
- Pawnee City Public High School, Diploma, 1986
Civic Activities and Memberships
- Air Force Association
- American Legion Post 27
- American Veterans Association
- Beatrice Chamber of Commerce
- Beatrice Mary YMCA – Past Board Member
- Beatrice Rotary Club – Current Member and Past President
- Ducks Unlimited
- Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 531
- Masonic Lodges 23 and 26
- Military Officers Association of America
- National Guard Association of Nebraska
- National Guard Association of the United States
- National Rifle Association of America
- Nebraska Chamber of Commerce – Current Board Member
- Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
- Pheasants Forever
- Scottish Rite
- Sesostris Shrine
- St. John Lutheran Church
- United Service Organization - USO
- United Services Automobile Association – USAA
- University of Nebraska Alumni Association
- U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Kansas State Bar Association
- Nebraska State Bar Association
- Nebraska State Bar Association Budget and Planning Chair
- Nebraska State Bar Association Executive Council – Past Member
- Nebraska State Bar Association Military Law Committee ‐ Vice Chair
- Nebraska State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section – Past Vice Chair
- Tri County Bar Association – President
Bar Admissions
- Nebraska State Court, 1996
- U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, 1996
- Kansas State Court, 1997
- U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, 1997
Military Affiliations
- Company B, 2/134th Infantry, Auburn/Falls City, Nebraska – Enlisted Member, 1985‐1993
- Nebraska National State Area Command, Lincoln, Nebraska – Law Clerk, 1993‐1997
- 35th Infantry Division Headquarters, Leavenworth, Kansas – Assistant Judge Advocate, 1997‐2000
- 130th Field Artillery Brigade, Topeka, Kansas – Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, 2000‐2003
- 67th Area Support Group, Lincoln, Nebraska – Staff Judge Advocate, 2003‐2005
- 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Nebraska – Assistant Judge Advocate, 2005‐2007
- 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Nebraska – Deputy Judge Advocate, 2007‐2010
- 155th Air Refueling Wing, Lincoln, Nebraska – Staff Judge Advocate, 2010‐2021
- 184th Wing, Wichita, Kansas – Staff Judge Advocate, 2021-Present