David J. Ward (born 10 October 1948, in London) is a British palaeontologist.
He worked for 14 years as a veterinary surgeon while being an amateur palaeontologist and taking part in several expeditions to Africa. In 1988 he retired from medicine to devote himself completely to palaeontology.[1] He travelled extensively in Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, as well as to Uzbekistan, Russia and Kazakhstan.
He published over 50 scientific articles and co-authored a bestselling book, Fossils (Smithsonian Handbook series).[2]
He was the 2007 Skinner Award recipient.[3]