Army Veteran. Renter.
Santa Monica Pier Board Member.
Meet Dan Hall
LGBTQ+ Veteran
Dan’s working class roots run deep, coming from a family of union educators and midwest Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party farmers. Raised in a home that valued social justice, Dan felt a calling to serve others and earned a Congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. As a Cadet, Dan was recognized as a leader amongst peers, and upon graduation he commissioned as an officer in the United States Army.
Dan’s service began under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which forced him to hide his identity while serving his country. When the policy was repealed, he became one of the Army’s first openly gay helicopter pilots, advocating for LGBTQ+ military health care, pushing for access to anti-HIV drugs, and promoting mental health services.
As an attack pilot and commander, Dan served in South Korea, Kuwait, and Iraq. He was fortunate to bring all of his soldiers home safely from combat zone operations against ISIS. His military awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service, and Operation Inherent Resolve medals.
Community Leader And Democratic Organizer
Dan was appointed by the City Council to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation Board of Directors in January 2022. While on the Board, he supported the creation of the Direct Action Response Team (DART) to combat vendor violence, criminal behavior, and safety risks at the Pier. He Chairs the Leasing Sub-Committee where he partners with the Pier’s small businesses and the City’s Police and Economic Development Departments to create a safe, welcoming, and economically sustainable business environment.
From 2021-2023, Dan served on the Executive Board of the Santa Monica Democratic Club, first as Vice Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, then Treasurer, and finally as Vice President of Political Action, where he led the Club’s organizing efforts supporting Labor’s strikes throughout 2023. He was elected as a Delegate for Assembly District 51 to the California Democratic Party, where he currently serves on the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.
Dan is a renter, member of the Mid-City Neighbors Association, and attends church at the Unitarian Universalist Community of Santa Monica. He actively volunteers at Meals on Wheels West delivering meals to seniors in the community. He can regularly be seen running in his neighborhood or rollerblading on the beach path with his partner Jason and their dog, Hudson.
Experienced Government & Business Leader
In his professional career, Dan has worked for a sustainable future by launching the world’s largest electric delivery van fleet, with an emphasis on reducing the carbon emissions in low-income, highly-polluted communities. Dan now works in the diversity, equity, and inclusion field where he leads a team building programs to support Black, Latino, Asian, women, and veteran leaders for a workforce of 1.3 million employees.
Dan holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and will complete a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Local Government from the University of North Carolina this spring.
