David Miscavige (born April 30, 1960) is the leader of the Church of Scientology and affiliated organizations. His title is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology. Miscavige was an assistant to Hubbard (a "Commodore's messenger") while a teenager. Miscavige's mandate is to protect the works of L. Ron Hubbard from distortion or misuse, He lives and works at Scientology's Gold Base, which is the main RTC headquarters, in Riverside County, California, near Hemet.
Since assuming his leadership position, Miscavige has been faced with press accounts alleging illegal and unethical practices, abuse of authority, and abuse of church members.