FamilyTreeDNA proudly welcomes David Vance as General Manager! Read along as he shares his passion for genetic genealogy and the expertise he brings to the role.
By: Dave Vance
FamilyTreeDNA has graciously allowed me to personally make the announcement that I have accepted the position of General Manager responsible for FamilyTreeDNA, Inc. within the MyDNA, Inc. portfolio of companies.
In job announcements, you’d normally see the person say how excited they are to join one of the world’s leading genetic genealogy companies in a leadership role or make some similar bland statement. In this case, though, I can’t find the words to even begin to capture my excitement. Many of you know that I retired early a little over a year ago to focus entirely on genetic genealogy. I still think it’s a dream that I can be even a small part of what FamilyTreeDNA can continue to offer to this evolving integration of life science and social science that we all love and practice.
A Little About Me: My Journey in Genetic Genealogy
For those who don’t know me, in my earlier professional career I was first a programmer but eventually spent my time leading large technology services contracts. I also have pursued genealogy for over 40 years and have been involved in genetic genealogy for about 20.
In addition to serving as Group Project Administrator and Co-Administrator on various surname and haplogroup projects, I’ve written tools for genetic genealogy (SAPP – Still Another Phylogeny Program – being perhaps the most well-known) and wrote an introduction to Y-DNA for genealogists (available on Amazon).
I’ve also written other articles and presented at various conferences about genetic genealogy, and over the past few years I have been the editor of the Journal of Genetic Genealogy (JoGG).
Passing the Torch: Seeking the Next Editor for JoGG
As I start this new role in the genetic genealogy community I will need to give up my role as editor of JoGG to prevent the appearance of a conflict of interest; so I’m asking anyone who wants to be considered for the journal editor to please leave a comment below and I will respond with contact information. It does require an experienced (and objective, fair and rational) genetic genealogist but it’s a fantastic role and a great service to the community.
Balancing My New Role with Long-Time Passions
I don’t plan to let this slow me down (well, not much at least) in developing more videos and other resources, writing and commenting on social media and speaking on topics that I feel are important to genetic genealogy, though I now may focus on resources both for FamilyTreeDNA customers and resources for the genetic genealogy community.
I have always taken pains to be objective, fair and rational (well, in my own view anyway) and I will continue to recommend FamilyTreeDNA only when I truly believe they are the best choice. In other words I plan to stay objective, fair, and rational and those who challenge me on that repeatedly will find I will lose my resolve to be rational long before I lose my resolve to be objective and fair.
I’ll keep SAPP and its associated companion tools up and running (and no, no immediate plans to roll SAPP into the FamilyTreeDNA tools!). I’ll still be a project administrator and the DNA advisor for my surname association. I’ll keep my Y-DNA book current with new editions as needed. And I’ll of course honor the speaking engagements I have accepted and accept new ones on genetic genealogy topics as long as the groups involved don’t see a conflict with my new role.
I know many of you have great ideas on where FamilyTreeDNA should focus their attention next and believe me, if you’ve ever posted them in the social media channels where we all hang out, I’ve probably read them. For right now my immediate priority is just finding a decent picture for my company id!
About the Author
Dave Vance
Senior Vice President and General Manager for FamilyTreeDNA
Dave Vance is a life-long genealogist with a professional career in IT services. He took a National Genographic Project DNA test in 2005 and has been a genetic genealogy enthusiast ever since to the mild consternation of his family and friends. He has been the editor of the Journal of Genetic Genealogy, is a surname Group Project Administrator and haplogroup Group Project Co-Administrator, has written tools, books and articles on genetic genealogy, and finds occasions to speak publicly about various genetic genealogy topics even when he wasn’t invited to do so beforehand.
Hello, welcome, I dont get on here much since been moving my information from Ancestry to WiKI. I’m part of the Vance tribe going back my mothers side to Lancelot Vance 1630 Ireland, My 9th great grandfather my family.Down to my 5th great grandmother Sarah Vance Endsley.
I am working on my Duett DeWitt line from my father’s what a mess Smallwood Duett Or DeWitt to Fielder Thomas of Clark Kentucky, where my Y showed up brick wall, but I keep digging.
Anyhow Welcome you cousin from some where, lol Stanley Duett
Congratulations on your new appointment. I am hoping to work with FTDNA on my own research project involving recovering DNA from tissue pathology specimens. I have already submitted my plan and inquiries through groups@ftdna.com.
Please offer whole genome testing as part of your DNA testing choices.
Congratulations!
Very interesting. Daisy Craigie.
Maybe he can get the glitch straightened out where if you uploaded you autosomal dna then it won’t let the results of your Ydna test show in the YDNA Overview Chart. People are starting to say things I don’t like. Request ID: 1611342
I’ll be first to ask what we all wonder but is not a detailed genetic question. Are you related to our new Vice President?
And welcome!
who is “MyDNA, Inc”?
Congratulations, Dave! Eager to see what directions you can move FTDNA towards. What do you see as your greatest challenge in this new role ? Are you local to the Houston area?