Government performance
Turning executive priorities into measurable results through performance management, service redesign, and accountability.
Public management / Strategy / Analytics
Making government work better.
I work at the intersection of public policy, fiscal strategy, operational delivery, and data.
I'm Steven David — a public-sector executive, management consultant, and educator focused on turning ambitious policy ideas into services that work for people.
Current role
Accenture
Senior Manager · Public Service
Academic work
University of Houston
Lecturer · Spring 2027
Independent work
Data & Commentary
Public analysis, writing, and visualization
Bio
01 / ABOUTGood government doesn't happen by accident. It takes clear priorities, sound operations, reliable data, and leaders willing to make difficult decisions.
Steven R. David is a public-sector executive, management consultant, and educator with experience spanning three Houston mayoral administrations and advisory work with state and local governments.
He most recently served as Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for the City of Houston under Mayor John Whitmire, following his appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff. His work has included fiscal strategy, citywide operational improvements, public safety coordination, disaster response, organizational change, and performance management.
Before returning to City Hall, Steven worked in public-sector consulting at Accenture and KPMG, supporting government leaders on technology modernization, service delivery, and operational transformation. He returned to Accenture in 2026 as a Senior Manager.
Beginning in Spring 2027, he will teach Efficiency is Equity: Government Operations and the Delivery of Public Value at the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs. His work is grounded in a straightforward idea: how government operates is inseparable from the quality and fairness of the services people receive.
Areas of focus
02 / PRACTICEFiscal stability
Connecting budget strategy, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability without losing sight of public value.
Implementation & transformation
Making complex change work across agencies, workforce structures, technology, procurement, and governance.
Public data & analysis
Using accessible evidence to inform policy choices, explain civic issues, and improve public understanding.
Explore a data project ↗Experience
03 / CAREER2026 — present
Accenture
Senior Manager
Supporting public-sector clients in navigating major operational and technology transformation programs.
2024 — 2026
City of Houston
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer; previously Deputy Chief of Staff
Senior leadership across municipal operations, financial strategy, organizational change, emergency response, and major service delivery initiatives.
2021 — 2023
Accenture
Manager · Public Service
Transformation initiatives for government clients, including 311 modernization, transit analytics, and public program operations.
2019 — 2021
KPMG
Senior Associate · Public Sector
Operational assessments, performance improvement, financial and organizational reviews for state and local governments.
2012 — 2019
City of Houston
Mayor's Office; Economic Development; Innovation & Performance
Policy implementation, municipal performance analysis, economic development, and data-informed service improvements under earlier mayoral administrations.
Education: Arizona State University · B.S., Political Science
Writing & ideas
04 / PERSPECTIVESPublished opinion · July 2023
Potholes aren't Houston's biggest problem. Here's the data.
Why publicly available 311 data should shape the way candidates and leaders talk about residents' priorities.
Read in the Houston Chronicle ↗Core idea · Teaching
Efficiency is Equity
Why operational excellence in government is a moral commitment to the people who rely on public services.
Explore the course ↗Public testimony · March 2025
What government efficiency actually requires
Written testimony on Houston's efficiency assessment, the hard work of implementation, and fiscal accountability.
Read testimony ↗Media & conversations
05 / MEDIAWhy Government Matters
A conversation with Bruce Katz and Angela Blanchard on governing, efficiency, and public value.
Houston's Chief Operating Officer on Fixing the Budget
A discussion of municipal finance, efficiency, and the choices behind public budgets.
Leadership and operations at Houston City Hall
Reporting on Steven's work in municipal operations and his transition back to consulting.
Teaching
06 / EDUCATIONUniversity of Houston · Hobby School of Public Affairs
Efficiency is Equity: Government Operations and the Delivery of Public Value
Beginning Spring 2027, this graduate-level course will examine how public leaders turn decisions into outcomes — through budgets, people, systems, data, governance, and accountability.
The course is built around cases, practical tradeoffs, and the realities of managing complex public organizations. Its central premise is that residents experience government not as an organizational chart, but through the services they receive.
01 Fiscal strategy & resource allocation
02 Government operations & workforce
03 Performance measurement & analytics
04 Crisis leadership & resilience
05 Ethics, equity & public trust
Independent data projects
07 / ANALYTICSPublic information, made useful.
2026 · Public-facing data visualization
Texas Early Voting Dashboard
An independent dashboard visualizing early-voting activity in large Texas counties. The project makes publicly available voting data easier to explore and compare.
Explore the dashboardContact
08 / CONNECTFor media inquiries, speaking opportunities, academic collaboration, or professional conversations:
steven@stevenrdavid.com ↗All commentary and independent projects on this site reflect my own views and do not represent any employer, client, or institution.