David S. Jonas (Dave) is the founder of Palmerston, a government relations firm specializing in national security, defense, and nuclear policy. With over three decades of senior federal and military service, Dave served as General Counsel for both the National Nuclear Security Administration (2001-2011) and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (2012-2014). He was a Senior Advisor to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry during the Trump Administration and was nominated by President Trump as General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy.

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A retired Marine Corps officer and registered lobbyist, Dave served a tour in Navy and Marine Corps Legislative Affairs where he gained familiarity with how things work on Capitol Hill. He made history as the first judge advocate in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark case Davis v. United States. In addition to his lobbying work, he currently serves as Partner at Fluet, a defense and national security focused law firm, and holds adjunct professor positions at Georgetown and George Washington University Law School, where he teaches Nuclear Nonproliferation Law & Policy, a course he created.

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Dave holds multiple degrees including an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College (highest distinction), an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown Law Center (with distinction), an LL.M. in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army, a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, and a B.A. in Political Science from Denison University. He has been appointed to the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee and has received numerous honors including the NNSA Silver Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

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When not advising clients on complex national security matters, Dave is an avid tennis player who frequently returns to his alma mater, Denison University, to hit the courts with the men's tennis team.