David A. Merkel provides strategic advise to companies and foundations. His expertise includes US Foreign Policy, the geopolitics of energy, international financial issues, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, European and Asian Security, and Diplomatic Relations. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Director for European and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council in the White House, Director for Central Asian Affairs at the National Security Council, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department and International Counselor to the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He also served as Senior Professional Staff for European and Eurasian Affairs in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senior Foreign and Defense Policy Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Policy Committee and Director at the Eurasia Foundation. In Tajikistan Mr. Merkel worked for JEOMT a joint mission of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). He received the Exceptional Service Award form the U.S. Treasury Department, The NATO Star from the President of Lithuania and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan, The Josef Korbel School of International Studies Social Science Foundation at the University of Denver, and at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy he is a Visiting Faculty Member in the Geopolitics of Energy. He is Director of the Caspian & Black Sea Policy Forum and Managing Director of Summit International Advisors. He holds degrees in Economics and International Relations and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (London) and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.