David F. Helvey is a former senior U.S. Department of Defense official with more than twenty-seven years of experience shaping U.S. defense strategy, policy, and international security cooperation, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific and Europe. 

Most recently, from 2021 to 2025, he served as the Secretary of Defense’s Deputy Representative in Europe, where he was responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing Department of Defense policies, programs, and initiatives across the European theater. In this role, he also served as Deputy Defense Advisor at the U.S. Mission to NATO, supporting the formulation and presentation of U.S. defense policy to the Ambassador and engagement with Allies on collective defense and security priorities.

 From 2017 to 2021, Helvey served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and performed the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. In these roles, he was responsible for developing and implementing U.S. defense strategy and policy across the Indo-Pacific, including alliance management, security cooperation, and regional posture.

Earlier in his career, Helvey held a range of senior positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense focused on East Asia, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia; Principal Director for East Asia; and Senior Advisor for China Policy and Integration. He also served as a Visiting Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, where his work focused on Chinese military affairs.

Helvey is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive and the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Medal (with Silver Palm), among other honors recognizing his contributions to U.S. national security.

He is the founder of Meridius Strategies, LLC, and continues to advise on international security, defense strategy, and geopolitical risk.

Helvey holds an M.A. in U.S. foreign policy from American University and a B.A. in political science from West Virginia University.