David Cattler is a strategic advisor who works at the intersection of technology, trust, resilience, and geopolitical risk. He advises boards, executives, investors, and technology companies on how cloud infrastructure, AI, digital sovereignty, and national-security considerations are reshaping the operating environment for globally connected businesses.
He is the Founder and Managing Principal of Ironhelm Works, a transatlantic advisory focused on trust, resilience, and institutional integrity. His work spans cloud governance, AI risk, supply-chain assurance, insider threat, strategic infrastructure, and the growing convergence of commercial technology and national-security priorities.
Prior to founding Ironhelm Works, Cattler served as Director of the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), leading a $3.2 billion organization responsible for safeguarding the government’s trusted workforce and industrial base. Earlier, he served as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security, where he worked with leaders across 32 nations to strengthen institutional resilience and modernize governance in an increasingly contested world.
A frequent speaker in North America and Europe, Cattler focuses on