Governor Heineman was sworn-in as Nebraska's 39th Governor on Friday, January 21, 2005. Prior to becoming Governor, he served more than three years as Lieutenant Governor, having been appointed in October 2001 and elected to a new four year term in November 2002. Governor Johanns resigned on January 20, 2005, after being confirmed as the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

As Lt. Governor, he served as Nebraska's director of homeland security, chairman of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission (NITC), and the presiding officer of the Nebraska Legislature. As chairman of the NITC, he worked with the University of Nebraska to create a telecommunications backbone across the state, for use by both the university and state government, to reduce costs, expand services and enhance distance learning opportunities. As the state's homeland security director, he led Nebraska into the national spotlight, recognized for innovative approaches to homeland security. In March 2004, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge appointed Heineman to his Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Dave Heineman is a native Nebraskan. He was born in Falls City and grew up in Fairbury, McCook, Benkelman and Wahoo, where he graduated from high school. In 1970, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served five years in the US Army, rising to the rank of captain. He is also a graduate of the Army's Airborne and Ranger Schools.

He has served as the Chief of Staff for former Congressman Hal Daub and the Fremont Area Office Manager for former Congressman Doug Bereuter. Heineman also served on the Fremont City Council. He was first elected to a statewide office in 1994, as the Nebraska State Treasurer. He was re-elected to that post in 1998. As Treasurer, he transformed the office into a 21st century financial money management operation, emphasized the electronic movement of money, improved the system for returning unclaimed property to Nebraskans, and implemented a College Savings Plan that has been recognized as one of the best programs in the country.

Governor Heineman has been married to Sally Ganem since 1977. Nebraska's First Lady is a principal at Howard Elementary School in Fremont. They have one son, Sam, who is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska.