David A. Cate is the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs. In this role he is responsible for managing the day-to-day defense relationship between the United States and the nations of Africa, and for providing oversight of security cooperation programs and foreign military sales programs in Africa.

Mr. Cate previously served as Director for Defense Governance and Director for Security Cooperation Assessment, Monitoring & Evaluation (AM&E) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), providing policy oversight and direction for multiple DoD programs related to security cooperation and Security Sector Reform.

Mr. Cate has 23 years of naval service in a wide variety of operational, staff and educational assignments. As a naval aviator he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf and served as Program Manager for the EA-6B aircraft. His staff assignments include service as Senior Operations Officer in U.S. Central Command’s Iraq Coalition Coordination Center during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and as Division Chief for Readiness and Resources in Pacific Command’s Operations Directorate. He also served in the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group (SSG).

Mr. Cate has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Air Medal, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College (M.A. National Security and Strategic Studies), and Columbia University (MBA).