Alumni David Ruhlig, M.P.A. ‘19, tells us about his work as Senior Program Manager at iconectiv, a company supporting critical telecommunications initiatives. David is passionate about the intersection between policy and infrastructure, something his time at GW allowed him to experience first-hand.
"One of the few shortcuts in life is proximity to action. Go where decisions are being made. Complex, high-tempo environments accelerate learning."
David Ruhlig
M.P.A. ‘19
Where did you grow up, and how has your background influenced you today?
I grew up in a small farm town in southern Michigan. My mom worked two jobs to support my sister and me, but she found time to teach me to question conventional wisdom. Today, I don't accept something simply because it has always been done that way.
I completed my degree while serving on active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard and raising a family. The experience required disciplined prioritization and long-term commitment. These skills continue to inform how I approach complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Tell us about your current professional role and how it excites you.
I serve in Audit and Compliance at iconectiv, where we support critical telecommunications infrastructure. My work focuses on service availability, regulatory integrity, and increasingly, integrating AI into operational workflows.
Telecommunications systems are deeply interdependent. What excites me is strengthening the connective tissue of systems most people never see but absolutely depend on.
What accomplishment are you most proud of personally or professionally, and why?
Seeing the people I’ve led go on to succeed. Leadership, in both public service and private industry, is about building capacity in others. Watching former team members thrive in more senior roles is the clearest evidence that I helped strengthen something larger than myself.
What is your only-at-GW moment? In other words, what is an experience/opportunity you believe GW provided you access to?
Standing in the control tower at Dulles International Airport while conducting my capstone project to help the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority improve airport operations. It was a moment where policy, infrastructure, and real-world consequences intersected. That experience is something uniquely enabled by GW’s location and relationships.
Was there a standout course, professor, or organization from your time as a student that inspired your career path?
An economics course with Professor Stephanie Cellini changed how I think about value. It taught me that incentives, tradeoffs, and opportunity costs exist in every system. That lens applies to national policy just as much as it does to organizational leadership.
What is a piece of advice you would offer to students seeking to pursue your field of work?
One of the few shortcuts in life is proximity to action. Go where decisions are being made. Complex, high-tempo environments accelerate learning. Also, pursue strong mentors. High-character, high-competence leaders compound your growth far more than chasing impressive job titles.
What is a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?
I’ve taken off in many more aircraft than I’ve landed in. First as a rated skydiver and later while fast-roping out of helicopters with the Coast Guard.
How do you give back to the GW community?
I remain engaged with classmates and faculty and volunteer to speak to classes, particularly on leadership transitions and navigating public-private career pathways.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the GW community?
The future requires leaders of character who understand both sides of the public-private partnership. Institutions are strongest when leaders can translate between sectors and align incentives toward long-term resilience.