Chairman 2018
Vice Chairman 2017
Re-elected 2018, 2024
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 in 2013
- Elected to University of Nebraska Board of Regents, District 5 in 2014
- Re-elected to University of Nebraska Board of Regents, District 5 in 2018
- Re-elected to University of Nebraska Board of Regents, District 5 in 2024
- District 5 consists of 13 counties in southeast Nebraska with approximately 250,000 constituents
- Served as Chairman for the years of 2018 and 2024 overseeing a $3.0 billion annual budget
- Currently serving for the year 2025 as Chairman of the Business Affairs and Finance Committee of the University of Nebraska System, which has five campuses, approximately 50,000 students and 15,000 staff and faculty members
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 and GMC – Owner/Dealer Principal
- Nebraska Air National Guard – Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, 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, 2021-2024
- Joint Forces Headquarters, Nebraska National Guard, Strategic Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, 2024-