David J. Hovermale

Executive Vice President, Government Relations

Hovermale has served as NOPA’s Executive Vice President since May 2001. As Executive Vice President, he is responsible for government relations, issues management, and political strategy and coordination. Hovermale also provides the coordination for NOPA’s three primary committees: Government and Public Relations, Industry and Grower Relations, and International Trade. From December 1998 through April 2001, Hovermale served as NOPA’s Director of Government and Public Relations.

Hovermale has nearly 25 years of involvement in the Washington agricultural and international trade policy. He has extensive experience in both Congress and the Administration.

Before joining NOPA, Hovermale served as Legislative Assistant for Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) from 1994 through November 1998. He specialized in agricultural policy and organized Senator McConnell’s activities on the Agriculture Committee and the Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Agriculture. Hovermale served as Director of Legislative Affairs of the Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 1998 to 1992. Hovermale also worked in several other USDA divisions, including International Affairs and Commodity Programs, Office of Congressional Relations, and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Hovermale earned his B.A. in political science from Frostburg State College in Maryland.