David has served as the natural resources director for the Nisqually Indian Tribe since 1987.
He heads a diverse department focused on salmon, shellfish, wildlife and the environment in general, with duties including management, legal, administration, budget development, research and monitoring.
Throughout his career at the Nisqually Indian Tribe, he worked closely with late Billy Frank, Jr. He also serves as chair of the Nisqually River Council and president of the Nisqually River Foundation, and he is the chair of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council. David previously served on the Washington Biodiversity Council, the Executive Committee of the Tri-County Response to the Endangered Species Act, the Development Committee of the Shared Strategy for Puget Sound, the Steering Committee for the Hatchery Reform Project, and as a voting member of the Resource Advisory Committee for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Mr. Troutt received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Washington School of Fisheries.