Paul Burkhalter, NOSSCR President

Who is David Camp – NOSSCR CEO

When I joined the NOSSCR Board in 2019, I didn’t know David Camp personally. I only knew of him through his reputation—most notably for winning NOSSCR’s Distinguished Service Award. He earned that recognition for his critical work challenging a national policy that kept claimants and their representatives in the dark about which judge would preside over their hearings. (If you’re skeptical about how much a judge’s identity affects outcomes, take a look at this data: SSA ALJ Disposition Data).

Since I’ve been on the Board, I’ve watched David serve in numerous roles—President of NOSSCR, Chief Policy Officer, Interim CEO, and now CEO. One of the greatest privileges of Board service has been getting to know dedicated, principled advocates from across the country. David is among the best of them.

I’ve been asked more than once, “Who is David Camp?”

Here’s what I’ve come to know: David began his legal career in legal services, then went on to found a firm in St. Louis that focused on helping homeless individuals obtain SSI benefits. He’s always thinking ahead—finding ways to expand his practice, such as representing individuals under investigation by SSA’s Office of Inspector General, and devising methods to connect “unwanted” leads from lead vendors (like SSI applicants) with representatives who are eager to help. And from what I’ve seen, those ideas are just the tip of the iceberg.

What I didn’t know—until recently, and not from David himself—was the full extent of what he endured while challenging the SSA’s “secret ALJ policy.” He taught himself FOIA litigation, filed repeated challenges, and drafted all the pleadings—all while managing his firm and maintaining a full caseload. During this time, David was hospitalized twice due to serious medical issues. But the real storm hadn’t even hit yet.

His father was hospitalized for months with a condition that ultimately led to his passing. Around the same time, David’s wife was injured, and their dog, Tabasco, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Amid all this, David went to his father’s bedside daily after long workdays, took on responsibility for his father’s affairs, and acted as the point of contact for his extended family. At home, he became “Mr. Mom,” caring for his son and supporting his wife through her rehabilitation. And still, he fought on—tirelessly challenging the SSA’s harmful policy.

Here’s what truly speaks volumes: David eventually cracked the code at his local OHO and figured out how to determine which ALJ was assigned to his firm’s cases. He could have stopped there. But he didn’t. He knew this fight wasn’t just about his own firm—it was about justice and fairness for all claimants and their representatives. So he kept going. And he won. (NOSSCR recognized him not only with an award—but also a fruit basket!)

This is the David I’ve come to know: someone who does what’s right for the community, even when it’s difficult and even when he doesn’t stand to benefit personally. He’s not leading NOSSCR for a paycheck—he’s in it because he’s full of ideas, vision, and determination to make the system better for all of us.

I know David is working hard when I get texts from him late on Friday nights and early on Sunday mornings about Social Security policy. That’s not unusual. He’s also a policy and politics enthusiast—who else would text me from an airport restaurant to say he was stuck next to both Samantha Power and Martha Raddatz?

Since moving NOSSCR’s operations to Washington, D.C., we’ve seen some home runs (like the second increase in the fee cap) and some misses (like the food at the Nashville conference). But the key difference now is this: we’re on the playing field, not sitting on the sidelines. And that’s where we need to be.

Looking ahead, I know the road won’t always be easy—for claimants or for those who represent them. But I’m confident knowing that David, along with the rest of the NOSSCR Board, is looking out for our community. He’s done it before—when it was hard, and when he didn’t have to. By God’s grace, we’ll keep moving forward—together.