Fr. David Ullrich O.M.I., was born in 1942 and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, making first profession in 1963.　 In 1967 he was sent to the Oblate mission in Japan. After studying language at Waseda University, he completed theological studies at Sophia University in Tokyo and was ordained in 1971.

In 1975 he returned to the United States and served twenty-one years in parish ministry, mainly among Mexican immigrants in California. In 1996 Fr. David was chosen as provincial of the western U.S. province.

He continued in that position until 1999, when he was called to serve on the central administration of the newly-formed U.S. province in Washington, D.C. He was in charge of the portfolio on mission and evangelization. In addition to degrees in philosophy, theology, and human behavior, he has a doctorate of ministry.