David Meisell graduated from Columbus High School in 1971 and from the United States Military Academy in 1975. Commissioned as an armor officer, he served with the Second Armored Division, both at Fort Hood, Texas and the Federal Republic of Germany. Returning to civilian life in 1980, he worked in the private sector as a small businessman from 1980 until 1991. He then accepted the position of Director of Human Resources at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas.
In 2003, David returned to his hometown to work in the 9-1-1 rural addressing office of Colorado County. in 2004, he accepted the position of City manager, following the footsteps of his father who served in that position fifty years earlier.