David Bartlett holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology from Amherst College and a doctorate in Marine Sciences from the University of Delaware. He spent ten years as a research scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center, conducting studies of the environment using sensors on Earth-orbiting satellites. His research interests are in chemical interactions of vegetation with the atmosphere, causes and effects of global-scale climate change, and management of coastal resources. He has published extensively on the use of aerial and orbital sensors for measurement of important environmental parameters.

Since 1989, Dr. Bartlett has been Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS) at the University of New Hampshire. He is responsible for the management of the Institute's research and educational programs and assists the Director in planning and in developing new avenues for external support of the Institute. EOS' research in space and Earth sciences is supported by more than $30 million per year of grants and contracts. Dr. Bartlett is the founding Director of the New Hampshire Space Grant Consortium, an educational and public information collaboration of New Hampshire Universities, Colleges, and science organizations. Dr. Bartlett continues his research in applications of satellite sensors to assess large scale variation in environmental conditions and the impact of terrestrial ecosystems on global biogeochemical cycles. He serves on the Policy Advisory Committee of the New Hampshire Sea Grant Program.