Dave Yumen was born and raised on a farm on Maui, Hawaii in a traditional Buddhist family. He attended University of Washington on an NROTC scholarship where he met The Navigators and gave his life to Christ. He graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering in June 1975 and reported to the USS Bradley (FF-1041) in Long Beach in February 1976. After his ship moved to San Diego, he got involved with The Navigators and remained involved throughout his active duty years. In September 1982 he joined The Navigator staff, and then was assigned to minister at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington State. While there he married Janet Nagata in September 1988. In June 1995, they moved to the San Diego area where they ministered to Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Dave retired from the Navy Reserve in 2005 with the rank of Captain. In September of 2020 they bought a Christmas Tree farm back on Whidbey Island (called the “Good Boy Farms”) together with their two grown children and their families and joined the NASWI Navigator Team. Dave & Janet are Navigator Staff.
