David Locke serves as the Executive Director of Prize Operations at XPRIZE, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in operations, project management, and the execution of high-impact global competitions. Throughout his tenure at XPRIZE, David has led the design and implementation of a wide range of ambitious prizes aimed at solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges through open innovation.

His portfolio spans diverse frontiers—including telepresence robotics, lunar exploration, and atmospheric water generation—and has contributed to the awarding of over $100 million in prize funding.

Currently, David is spearheading XPRIZE Water Scarcity, a $119 million, five-year global competition focused on accelerating access to clean water. The competition challenges teams worldwide to develop reliable, affordable seawater desalination technologies, with the goal of transforming how communities around the world secure freshwater.
https://www.xprize.org/water