The NGTOC is the operational branch of USGS’s National Geospatial Program and has locations in Denver, Colorado and Rolla, Missouri. As Director of NGTOC, Brostuen leads a wide array of functions in support of maintaining seamless, current, nationally consistent coverage of base geospatial data for the Nation, including development of digital topographic maps (US Topo), the 3D Elevation Program and the National Hydrography Dataset. In addition, David oversees several broad-based USGS contract mechanisms for the acquisition of geospatial products and services through the commercial sector. David has been acting in the role of Director, NGTOC since January 2020.

“I am honored and thrilled to be selected as the NGTOC Director,” said Brostuen. “The program has an amazing legacy dating back to 1889 when Congress provided its first annual appropriation to the USGS for topographic mapping. I am so proud of our mapping heritage and the privilege to work with such a highly motivated and talented team of professionals in designing and delivering next-generation geospatial products and services for the Nation.”

David began his career at USGS in 2009 as the Associate for Operations at NGTOC overseeing implementation of products and services comprising The National Map. During this time, he served in a detail as a senior advisor to the Department of the Interior Office of the Budget in 2019 and a detail as the National Geospatial Program Deputy Director in 2017. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years in a variety of technical and management roles in the private sector geospatial industry, including executive-level appointments in two geospatial product and services companies.

“David has proven himself to be an effective and forthright manager, helping to expand the geospatial architecture of NGTOC to support highly visible projects over the past several years,” Mike Tischler, the NGP Director stated. “He has also been instrumental in developing the next generation workforce of NGTOC, as the Center has replaced 60% of the workforce that has retired in the last 5 years. He has done all of this while meeting (and usually exceeding) any performance goals.”

David completed the Department of the Interior’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in 2019 and the SES/Executive Level Certificate in the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Program, U.S. Office of Personnel Management in 2018. David holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Colorado State University.  He lives in the foothills west of Sedalia, Colorado and enjoys traveling, telemark skiing and competitive water sports.

More about the NGTOC:

For more than 142 years the USGS has been the Nation’s federal source for topographic mapping. The NGTOC is the newest addition to that rich and significant history. Since its inception, the USGS topographic mapping program has taken many forms - from the early days of mapping in the field through the compilation of maps using aerial imagery through all phases of digital mapping, including the current very high resolution, “smart” data being created and published today as part of the National Geospatial Program.  

The Center still maintains many of the map materials used to create the original USGS Topographic Map Series, however, geospatial information experts in the Center work with high resolution digital information that is used in many applications, from flood hazard analyses, to site planning to recreation. One of the defining features about the NGTOC is that we are “one organization in two locations.” Employees in both sites work virtually side by side to create and maintain national, authoritative geospatial data for the nation.