David Aylward
David Aylward is the first Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance -- a partnership recently formed by the UN Foundation, The Vodafone Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation to support and advance mobile health (“mHealth”) initiatives in the developing world. The Alliance will generate public and private collaboration in support of mHealth innovation and projects that address global health needs.
Aylward has more than 35 years of experience in public policy, information technology, and communications. Prior to joining the Foundation, he was Director of COMCARE Emergency Response Alliance, which he founded in 1998. As Chief Strategist for COMCARE, Aylward helped develop a new vision and interoperable architecture for domestic emergency response of all kinds, including: medical, based on modern information technology, broadband, and wireless.
Aylward began his communications career as Legislative Director to U.S. Representative Timothy E. Wirth (D-Colorado). After directing the staff of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee during the advent of competition in telecommunications, the breakup of AT&T, and the emergence of the cable television industry as a major force, he established National Strategies, a successful business and public policy consulting firm that is in its 25th year.
He has managed and been an owner of radio and satellite companies, and represented a wide range of communications, finance and other clients, most recently focusing on healthcare response, information technology, and assisting innovative start-up companies, in addition to his emergency response advocacy.
Aylward received a BA from Dartmouth College and a JD from The George Washington University Law School.
