Overview
Dan is Counsel in McDonald Hopkins's government contracting group and brings more than 20 years of experience as a U.S. Air Force judge advocate, with a practice spanning trial and appellate litigation, security cooperation, and of course government procurement. In the latter category, he served in key roles at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and Space Systems Command at Los Angeles AFB, California. In addition to his practice, Dan teaches at the George Washington University Law School as an adjunct professor, previously lectured at the Dickson Poon School of Law at King's College London, and serves as the NCR Distinguished Professor of Law and Technology at the University of Dayton School of Law
Dan earned a J.D. from the University of Iowa and a B.A. from Brigham Young University. Later, he continued his studies at the University of Nottingham and George Washington University, where he received specialized training in government procurement law.
Honors & Recognition
2019 Thomas P. Keenan, Jr. Award (JAG Corps’s international & operational law award)
2017 Keithe E. Nelsen Writing Award (ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law)
2015 Young Judge Advocate of the Year for Air Force Materiel Command
2015 First Place, ABA/Public Contract Law Journal Writing Competition
2014 Second Place (tied), ABA/Public Contract Law Journal Writing Competition
2012 Young Judge Advocate of the Year for the Air Force Legal Operations Agency
Credentials
Clerkships
- Judicial Clerk, Iowa Supreme Court, Justice Jerry Larson
Education
University of Nottingham School of Law, Ph.D.
George Washington University Law School, LL.M.
University of Nottingham, LL.M.
University of Iowa College of Law, J.D.
University of Iowa, M.A.
Brigham Young University, B.A.
Admissions – Court
- Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
- Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
- Iowa Supreme Court
- Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Washington D.C.
- U.S. Supreme Court
Admissions – State
- District of Columbia
- Iowa
Professional & Civic
Professional Activities
Editorial Board, European Defence & Security Law & Policy Quarterly, 2025–present
Reporter, ABA Model Procurement Reform Committee, 2025–present
Federal Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, Chair, International Procurement Committee, 2025–present
Editorial Board, Upphandlingsrättslig Tidskrift (Sweden), 2022–present
Editorial Board, Journal of Contract Management (NMCA), 2022–present
Judge Advocate Association, 2020–present
Contrats Publics dans la Globalisation Juridique (Paris), 2019–present
Public Procurement Research Group (UK), 2015–present
Editorial Board, Air Force Law Review, 2010-present
ABA Public Contract Law Section, 2013–present
Reuben Clark Law Society, 2010-present
Iowa Bar Association, 2003–present
Community Involvement
Early Morning Seminary Teacher, 2025–present
High Council, Dayton Ohio Stake, 2022–23
Ward Family History Leader, 2021–22
Adjunct Instructor, Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, 2012–25
Iowa Bar Association, Military Affairs Committee, 2010–present
Counselor, Clerk, or Secretary to seven Latter-day Saint Bishops, 2007–19
Assistant Scout Master, Boy Scouts of America, 2004–06
Board Member, Farmers & Traders Savings Bank, Doud, Iowa, 2004–19
Children’s Sunday School Teacher, 2004–05, 2019–20, 2023–25
Youth Sunday School Teacher, 2003–04, 2012–13
Missionary, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Monterrey Mexico, 1995–97
Elders Quorum President, 1994–95, 1999–2000