David A. Baker is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Policy. In this role, he is responsible for managing the day-to-day defense relationship between the United States and the nations of Europe, NATO, and the European Union.

Before joining the Defense Department, Mr. Baker, served as special assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. He also worked in the State Department’s Office of European Security and Political Affairs, the Office of China Coordination, and served overseas in the Dominican Republic and Indonesia. Mr. Baker initially joined the State Department as a Presidential Management Fellow, completing assignments at the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and as special assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  While at the State Department, Mr. Baker received multiple Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor Awards.

Mr. Baker previously worked at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services and served as an active-duty Army officer. His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

He holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MLitt from the University of St. Andrews.