Arnel David

Colonel Arnel P. David is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Valley Forge Military College’s ROTC Early Commissioning Program. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Florida Army National Guard.

After company command in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) he transitioned to Civil Affairs after completing the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Civil Affairs Qualification and Regional Analysis Course. In 2017, COL David completed a final transition to become a Functional Area 59 - Strategist.

He is currently the Director of the Strategic Initiatives Group (SIG) of the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). He previously served as the DACOS G5 for the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and just prior he was the US Special Advisor to the Chief of General Staff of the British Army (UK 4-Star General). He served as the Chief of Staff for the Army Future Studies Group in Washington D.C. under General Mark A. Milley where he led the group to build Army Futures Command. COL David redeployed in 2017 from Afghanistan where he served as the Commander’s Initiative Group Chief for the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan (SOJTF-A). Prior to deployment he served as a fellow in the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group.  

COL David deployed routinely on overseas contingency operations to the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Central Asia, and Pacific. He was awarded a legion of merit medal, two bronze star medals, four meritorious service medals, the defense meritorious service medal, and the combat action badge, amongst other commendations.

In 2016 he was awarded the State of Florida Citizen Life Saving Award by the Governor of Florida. In 2022, he was recognized by the Queen of England in her majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours for his founding of Fight Club International and leading the NATO Project PROMETHEUS experiment to improve wargaming, planning, and decision-making.

COL David is a Distinguished Graduate of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) and other military education includes the Infantry Captain’s Career Course, Combined Arms Services and Staff School, Special Warfare Center & School, Resident Intermediate Level Education, Defense Strategy Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School, SERE-C High Risk, and Pathfinder School.

His education consists of a Master of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the National Defense University (awarded NDU Scholar designation with honors), Master of Arts & Science from the Command and General Staff College’s Local Dynamics of War Scholar Program, Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor Degree in International Relations from the University of North Florida. He recently completed an Artificial Intelligence Programme at the Saïd Business School in the University of Oxford and is a PhD candidate at King’s College London.

He frequently writes and publishes pieces featured in Foreign Policy, Real Clear Defense, Military Strategy Magazine, and War on the Rocks. His books include Military Strategy in the 21st Century: People, Connectivity, and Competition and Warrior Diplomats: Civil Affairs Forces on the Front Lines.