Dave Mills is recently retired after a distinguished career with Cargill, where he held leadership roles spanning product development, fermentation scale‑up, and manufacturing. His most recent position was Lead Process Development Engineer in Cargill’s fermentation pilot plant, where he guided the development and scale‑up of new fermentation‑derived products. In this role, he collaborated closely with R&D, operations, and commercial teams to translate laboratory concepts into robust, full‑scale manufacturing processes.  His work in the pilot plant built on a strong foundation in operations, process engineering, and continuous improvement across several manufacturing environments.

Prior to joining the R&D organization, Dave served as External Manufacturing Manager at Cargill’s Eddyville, Iowa facility, where he oversaw contract manufacturing operations, supplier relationships, and the delivery of high‑quality food and industrial products across multiple business lines.

Earlier in his career, Dave held a variety of engineering and operational roles that strengthened his expertise in fermentation, process optimization, and cross‑functional technical leadership. His work contributed to advancements in biotechnology, ingredient innovation, and manufacturing excellence across Cargill’s global network.

In retirement, he remains committed to supporting the next generation of engineers through mentoring and his continued service on the UNL Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Advisory Board

Hometown

Gretna, Nebraska

Education

BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1988