Discovery Museum Welcomes David J. Cote to its Board of Directors

Acton, MA – Discovery Museum is pleased to welcome David J. Cote to its Board of Directors. 

David J. Cote is a Program Manager at Draper Laboratory, a Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government graduate, and retired US Marine Corps Officer. 

Prior to joining Draper Laboratory in July 2023, where he works in the Strategic Systems division, David was a Vice President at State Street Bank and Trust. David’s United States Marine Corps experience includes serving as Manpower and Human Resources Officer for the 25th Marine Corps Infantry Regiment at Fort Devens, MA, and an Operations Research and Risk Mitigation Analyst at Headquarters Marine Corps, Programs and Resources, at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. David has also served in positions at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA, and at Camp Fallujah in Al Anbar, Iraq. 

David received a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in May, 2023. He also holds a Master in Business Administration from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College, and a Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy. 

Awards recognizing David’s leadership and service include a Center for Public Leadership Fellowship from the Harvard Kennedy School, “Volunteer of the Year Award” at State Street, the Anne C. Murphy service and leadership award at Boston College, the Sea Service Leadership Association Major Megan McClung Leadership Award, the Maine Governor’s Award for Service and Volunteerism, and the Military Times “Marine of the Year” award in 2011. David became an Eagle Scout in 1997. 

David is Founder and former CEO of The Summit Project, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving the memories of Maine’s fallen heroes. He volunteers as a member of Acton’s Economic Development Committee and the Greater New England chapter of the National Kidney Foundation.

David runs marathons and triathlons and is a licensed airplane and helicopter pilot. He and his wife live in Acton and have two young children who love the Discovery Museum, particularly the Water gallery and Treehouse. 

“David brings to our Board a unique perspective based on extensive leadership experience in the business, military, and nonprofit realms at a time when we look ahead to balancing our leadership transition and expanding our support for kids and families, including the active-duty military community,” said Board President Harry Hollenberg. “We will look to David to help us increase our impact in many areas and are very happy to welcome him to the Museum community.”

High resolution photo for media use available for download here 

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About Discovery Museum 

Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum that blends science, nature, and play, inspiring families to explore and learn together. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and 550sf treehouse blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. Originally founded in 1982 and expanded to two museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible building after a complete renovation and expansion in early 2018. Hands-on, open-ended exhibits developed by professional educators inspire curiosity and exploration, providing a fun and engaging experience for children and adults to discover their world together. Serving families and schools from towns throughout the region, the museum is devoted to informal education that enhances classroom learning. Discovery Museum is committed to accessibility and is a proud recipient of the 2017 Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the only winner in the Access category, and a 2018 LEAD® Community Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, please visit www.discoveryacton.org. Discovery Museum is a community-supported non-profit organization.

Discovery Museum programming is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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