David A. Ward Sr. is a dedicated family-oriented person, married, with five adult children: Toby, David Jr., NaTasha, Candiss, and Kaylynn and five grandchildren: Braedon, Brycen, Brennan, Gabryela, and Rio.

David spent six years in the United States Air Force, Security Police Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, and Offutt AFB Nebraska; twenty-three years with the Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) as a National Safety Examiner, Fire Chief, and EMT; and five years with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a Federal Investigator. He retired after thirty-four years of federal government service in May 2011.

After he retired from the government, he started his own safety consulting company, Safety By Design Consulting Services from 2011–17 and is currently a Senior Safety Consultant with Sentry Insurance/Parker Services.