Dave Simmons

Second-generation American, husband, fur dad, and retired Army officer. Into surfing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and firearms.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

@cturnbull1968 @adalluch Apollo ended in 1975, and the U.S. stopped splashdowns after that. The Space Shuttle (1981–2011) landed on runways. After Shuttle retirement, the U.S. had nine years without launching astronauts until SpaceX’s Crew Dragon resumed U.S. spaceflight and splashdowns in 2020.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

@ToddHow91099851 @GavinNewsom It is the circle of life; one can't exist without the other.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

North Carolina's Senate Bill 228, the 'Disabled Veterans Tax Relief Bill,' proposes adjusting property tax exclusions to match a veteran's disability rating. This bill is currently under consideration in the Senate. I hope this bill will pass. Learn more here:

https://t.co/tgAS02AFLz

#ncpol #NCVeterans

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

Trump has been underwater in polling his entire political career—even when he won in 2016 and 2024. What actually matters is where the public stands on the issues. Americans overwhelmingly support stronger border security, cracking down on illegal immigration, and cutting the bloated federal workforce. They’re tired of the DOJ, FBI, and DOD being weaponized against political opponents, and trust in these institutions is at an all-time low. There’s also growing frustration with endless wars, unchecked foreign aid, and a trade imbalance that has gutted American manufacturing.

Trump's real problem isn’t the policies—it's the style. His trolling and bombast, combined with relentless media hostility, keep his personal approval numbers lower than they probably should be. The mainstream narrative is 100% negative, drowning out the fact that many of his positions align with what the majority of Americans actually want.

The real takeaway here isn’t that Americans reject Trump's policies. It’s that his approach that gives the media and the establishment endless ammo to keep him politically toxic. But that doesn’t mean he’s wrong on the issues.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

Fair point—governance matters more than polls in the long run. But public sentiment is a reflection of what people perceive, and right now, the battles the Democrats are picking seem like silly hills to die on. As for the polling, I looked at it, and it doesn’t paint a great picture for either side. When two-thirds of voters think both parties prioritize politics over the country, that’s a bigger issue than just approval ratings. The reality is that people are frustrated across the board, and no one has the clear upper hand.

Right now, I see this as the storming phase of the incoming administration. It happens—I've run enough projects and programs to know that the forming and storming phases are always high stakes and high stress. The key is getting through it efficiently to reach the norming and performing stages. This is where DJT and DOGE are not helping. Trump and DOGE keep trolling, adding unnecessary drama that just gets in the way. The mission should be clear: fix the border, de-politicize institutions, fix the economy, end the wars. The ‘Make Canada the 51st state,’ ‘buy Greenland,’ ‘Gulf of America’ nonsense is just distraction.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

Great Wednesday opening session sponsored by Kimley-Horn. Safety Pro”Tech”tions explored how DOTs are using a data driven process to plan, design, and implement Active Traffic Managment (ATM) systems along congested interstates in Nevada and Virginia. DOTs also shared lessons learned from deployments of variable speed limits and ATM. Thank you presenters Mike Fontaine, Virginia Department of Transportation DOT; Kevin Maxwell, Nevada Department of Transportation Stephanie Palmer, Michigan Department of Transportation .

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

Great session hosted and moderated by Cole Dagerhardt of Exult Engineering. The Not Taking it for “Grant”ed session provided a case study for a successful SMART grant followed by a panel discussion that explored opportunities, experiences, and expectations for future grants. Thank you Ashley Boenisch (City of Charlotte), Natalie Smusz-Mengelkoch, PE (ICF), Ken Gilland (HNTB) and Dom Ciaramitaro, P.E. (NCDOT) for participating in our panel discussion.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

Great time was had by all at our world famous @CarolinasITS Cornhole Tournament. Congratulations Nicholas Burns and Travis Matthews or 2025 Champions!

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

We had an incredible time connecting the next generation of professionals with experienced mentors at our Young Professionals Speed Networking event! Attendees gained valuable insights, expanded their professional networks, and had engaging conversations that could shape their careers.

A huge thank you to our mentors and young professionals who made this event such a success! Check out some highlights from the event below.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

A great opening session this morning at the ITS Carolinas Annual Meeting. Thank you to Commissioner Dane Scalise for welcoming us to Wilmington and Kristin White for an energetic keynote speech on the future Google Transportation, human centered design, and empowering women in the industry.

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

@CarolinasITS extends a huge thank you to all our incredible vendors for making our annual meeting possible! Your support drives the success of this event, and we’re grateful for your partnership. Be sure to explore our vendor displays during the conference—connect, discover, and experience the innovations they bring to the table!

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

Tonight is the night! Join @CarolinasITS at Tequila Waterfront and Marina Grill to sip, sync, and socialize as we kick off the ITS Carolinas Annual Meeting. Don’t forget to pickup a bingo card to win prizes throughout the conference!

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

@CarolinasITS is thrilled to announce that @danescalise, New Hanover County Commissioner and member of the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, will be delivering the opening remarks at our 2025 ITS Carolinas Annual Meeting!

Dane's extensive experience and dedication to smart transportation solutions make him the perfect speaker to kick off our event. Join us in Wilmington, NC, as we explore innovative technologies and strategies to enhance transportation systems across the Carolinas. Looking forward to an inspiring and productive conference!

https://t.co/NlFl6fhCrj

#ncpol

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

The @CarolinasITS Annual Meeting is known for its networking opportunities. This year we have an exciting and fast-paced event. The ITS Carolinas Young Professionals will be hosting a speed networking event during lunch on Tuesday, March 11. From up-starters to the grizzled veteran, come by and make some more connections with your fellow attendees.

https://t.co/sRVSCA0EIP

[Dave Simmons @DaveWSimmons]

The @CarolinasITS Young Professionals Committee is excited to present the Happy Hour Head Shots Event at the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 11th from 5-6p. Thank you to Carolina Traffic Devices for sponsoring this event.

Register in advance to secure your spot for a new head shot photo!

https://t.co/bPSpGdHFYP