David Cattler

David Cattler is the Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), the United States Government’s premier provider of integrated security services, effective March 24, 2024.  DCSA is a strategic asset to the Nation and its allies— ensuring a trusted federal and industrial workforce and enabling industry's delivery of uncompromised capabilities. DCSA uniquely blends industrial security, counterintelligence support, personnel vetting, and security training to advance and preserve America's strategic edge. He leads the agency’s strategic transformation and maturation, and a workforce of approximately 12,000 federal and contract support personnel worldwide.

Before joining DCSA, Mr. Cattler served as Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and informed and protected NATO decision-making. He helped form and coordinate national policy as Deputy Assistant to the President for Regional Affairs within the National Security Council. He was a senior advisor to the Director of National Intelligence in multiple roles, including Chairman of the National Intelligence Management Council, National Intelligence Manager for the Near East, and Principal Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Military Issues. He supported combat operations while directing the Defense Intelligence Agency’s counterterrorism efforts and serving as the Joint Staff’s Deputy Director for Intelligence.

He began his career as a naval surface warfare officer and served two Aegis cruisers, USS ANTIETAM and USS CHANCELLORSVILLE, and ashore in military and civilian roles with the Office of Naval Intelligence and Director of Naval Intelligence.

He has earned academic degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy and Georgetown University. He also is a graduate of the National Intelligence University, the U.S. Naval War College, and was a senior fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI.

He is the recipient of numerous national and foreign awards including: the Order of Terra Mariana of Estonia (Third Class); the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Poland; the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Ukraine (Fifth Degree); the Order of Merit of the Ministry of Defence of Estonia (Second Class); Medal of Noble Partner of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia; Medal of Honorary Recognition of the Ministry of Defence of Latvia; Medal of the Defense Intelligence Service of Lithuania; Medal of  Partnership of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine; the DNI Distinguished Service Award; the DIA Director’s Award; 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award of the Amphitheater School District (Tucson, Ariz.); Navy Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster); Joint Service Achievement Medal; Navy Achievement Medal (with one oak leaf cluster); and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.