David Greenlees
EDUCATION
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JD, Thomas Jefferson School of Law
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BA, George Washington University
BAR ADMISSIONS
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State Bar of California
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State Bar of Michigan
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District of Columbia Bar
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
APPOINTMENTS
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Special Compliance Officer
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U.S. Department of State, Defense Trade Advisory Group (2024-26)
AFFILIATIONS
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Society for International Affairs, Member, Panel Speaker
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Disabled American Veterans, Life Member
David Greenlees is an international trade compliance consultant and President of Greenlees Global Advisors LLC. He has more than 30 years’ experience in government and the private-sector with an emphasis on international trade, defense, and national security. As a litigation attorney, David has provided advice and counseling regarding the laws and regulations pertaining to export controls, intellectual property, and criminal law. Skilled at engaging with government regulators, policy makers, and industry leaders, David has a track record of providing creative and sustainable solutions to the complex challenges that exist in an ever-changing regulatory framework.
David served for eight years as a Senior Compliance Specialist at the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). In that role, he was responsible for overseeing foreign government and defense industry compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). David regularly coordinated with the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Intelligence Community (IC) on reviews of unauthorized exports to assess harm to national security. He assisted Federal law enforcement agencies conducting parallel criminal investigations of Arms Export Control Act (AECA) violations. He participated in dozens of domestic and overseas site visits to assess each facility’s ITAR compliance posture and provided constructive feedback to illustrate compliance best practices. David negotiated the administrative settlement of AECA and ITAR violations with industry and provided post-settlement monitoring and support for four consent agreements.
David is a retired U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel and has significant experience as a field artillery officer in both peacetime and combat operations around the globe. In his last active-duty assignment, he served as the Operations Officer in the Marine Corps’ Office of Legislative Affairs and regularly briefed members of Congress, senior executives, and flag officers on a wide variety of issues. He frequently escorted Congressional delegations on overseas missions to critically important locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
David has broad legal experience in state, federal, and foreign courts and has served as a criminal defense attorney, legislative counsel, intellectual property litigation attorney, and a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego, California.
David has served as a Special Compliance Officer under a Consent Agreement and was appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of State's Defense Trade Advisory Group for the 2024-26 term.