Former U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Dave West is an investor and executive, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Avantus Federal, a private equity-backed national security company focused on data, cyber, and space solutions serving homeland, intelligence, and defense mission needs.  At Avantus, Dave leads strategy, corporate development, and marketing and communications.  Earlier Dave served in a similar role for ECS, the government technology solutions segment of ASGN Incorporated (NYSE: ASGN). In this role, he led many successful M&A transactions and supported ASGN Board and executive leadership on Covid-19 pandemic and longer-term strategic planning and investor strategy efforts. Dave also served in private equity investing and investment banking roles at Morgan Stanley and was an executive at leading government sector consulting firms Wolf Den Associates and Ridge Global, led by former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge. 

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Before joining the private sector, Dave served in the start-up era of the Department of Homeland Security supporting the international efforts of Secretaries Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff across the range of immigration and DHS mission areas. 

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Since 2011, Dave has been closely involved with non-partisan, non-profit Institute for the Study of War (ISW) focused on informed understanding of military affairs and improving the nation’s ability to respond to emerging threats in order to achieve U.S. strategic objectives. 

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Dave earned a B.A. in Public Policy Studies and Economics from Duke University, a MSc in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Finance from The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business where he was a Harper Fellow.

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Dave and his wife, Heather, daughters Elle and Ava, and son Quinn live in Great Falls, Virginia.