David Payne

 David Payne is Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Economic Development and leads department-wide planning and permitting coordination on major economic development projects across North Carolina. He joined the department in 2025 as an environmental and economic project coordinator focusing on large, high-priority industrial site development projects requiring specialized permitting and close collaboration between regulatory staff, State and local governments, and private industry. He also has professional experience outside of DEQ in local government budgeting and grants management, workforce development, and education.

David holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a master’s degree in public administration from the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government.