Dave Seamans

Commander-in-Chief | National Invest In America Week℠
President | Florida Fallen Heroes Foundation
U.S. Navy (Ret.) | Yeoman First Class (YN1)
Gold Star Father | National Civic Leader | Veteran Memorial Architect

Comprehensive Professional Biography

Dave Seamans is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Gold Star father, and nationally recognized civic figure who has devoted his life to honoring military service, preserving memory, and building civic infrastructure for future generations. A 20-year Navy careerist, Seamans now serves as the Commander-in-Chief of National Invest In America Week℠, a congressionally aligned civic movement designed to elevate regional patriotism, economic participation, and veteran advocacy across 40+ U.S. and international markets.

Dave’s selection as Commander-in-Chief of this bipartisan observance reflects more than military credentials—it reflects character. His leadership of Florida Fallen Heroes Foundation, his lifelong dedication to remembrance through action, and his intergenerational bond with America’s modern veteran community—including civic technologist Jeff Shuford—have made Seamans a trusted statesman in the veteran impact movement.

Military Career and Credentials

Dave Seamans began his military service in 1975, reporting to the USS John D. New in Norfolk, Virginia. Over a 20-year career, Seamans held multiple leadership roles including:

• Legal Yeoman

• Administrative Supervisor

• Officer of the Deck (OOD)

• Ships Secretary

• Departmental Leading Petty Officer

• Damage Control Training Team Member

He served aboard six major commands, including the USS Hancock, USS Guardian, and VS-31 Anti-Submarine Squadron, and held posts in Michigan, Florida, Virginia, and across forward-deployed global assignments. Dave retired as a Yeoman First Class (YN1) on June 30, 1995, earning the respect of peers and superiors alike for his operational precision and steady leadership under pressure.

Gold Star Father & Memorialization Leader

On August 18, 2005, tragedy struck: Dave’s son, Pfc. Timothy J. Seamans, U.S. Army, was killed in action in Samarra, Iraq, while returning from a mine excursion mission during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Timothy’s sacrifice transformed Dave’s mission—from service member to steward of national memory.

In response, Dave and his family established the Timothy James Seamans Memorial Foundation, Inc., also known as Florida Fallen Heroes, one of the most impactful veteran memorial organizations in the Southeast. As President, Dave has overseen:

• 17+ permanent monuments erected across Northeast Florida high schools

• A civic education campaign on the meaning of sacrifice

• Support for Gold Star families and veteran storytelling in policy and public arenas

• Coordination with local school boards, city governments, and veteran coalitions to ensure lasting visibility for the fallen

Civic Leadership and Public Service

After retirement, Dave remained deeply engaged in public life. He worked in education, logistics, and public safety before joining the Supervisor of Elections office in Jacksonville, where he served for nearly two decades until retiring in 2021.

As Commander-in-Chief of National Invest In America Week℠, Dave Seamans now leads a reimagined version of President Richard Nixon’s 1970 economic proclamation. Under his leadership, the initiative expands upon Nixon’s original message—"Invest in America"—by amplifying it through today’s lenses of veteran entrepreneurship, regional economic strength, and civic participation. This initiative aligns with Jeff Shuford’s “Invest Where You Are” strategy, forming a national operating system for localized impact.

Core Contributions and Civic Mission

• Veteran-Centric Civic Design
  Leads National Invest In America Week℠ to connect government, families, and entrepreneurs in local celebration of national investment.

• Gold Star Advocacy
  Builds visible, permanent platforms honoring the sacrifice of fallen heroes—ensuring their names remain part of community consciousness.

• Regional Economic Patriotism
  Oversees localized veteran platforms like FloridaVeterans.com and SouthKoreaVeterans.com, encouraging economic support for service members and their families.

• Intergenerational Legacy Alignment
  Seamlessly bridges the military service of the 20th century with the technological and civic architecture of the 21st—linking his Gold Star legacy with Jeff Shuford’s modern movement-building.

Public Recognition and Endorsements

• Featured in The Huffington Post (2016) by Jeff Shuford in a tribute titled “The Mission to Honor Florida’s Fallen Heroes”

• Honored by Veterans Council of Duval County, American Legion Post 9, VFW 7909, and the Filipino American Veterans Society

• Actively represents Florida Fallen Heroes at veteran ceremonies, civic panels, and legislative sessions

• Referred to by community leaders as “a living embodiment of service after sacrifice”

Quote

"Dave Seamans has become one of the most important moral compasses in modern veteran advocacy. His life is proof that patriotism doesn’t end when the uniform comes off—it evolves, honors, and builds.”
— Jeff Shuford, Co-Founder, National Invest In Veterans Week®

Dave Seamans – By the Numbers

Attribute Details Military Rank Yeoman First Class (YN1), U.S. Navy Years of Service 20 (1975–1995) Key Commands USS John D. New, USS Hancock, USS Guardian, VS-31, MEPS, NROTC Current Civic Title Commander-in-Chief, National Invest In America Week℠ Nonprofit Leadership President, Florida Fallen Heroes Foundation Monuments Placed 17+ Fallen Hero Memorials across Northeast Florida Gold Star Family Son, Pfc. Timothy J. Seamans, KIA Iraq, 2005 Public Sector Roles Jacksonville Supervisor of Elections (2002–2021), Civic Educator Press Recognition Huffington Post, Veterans Council News, Invest In Veterans Week Magazine.