David Hanke is a partner at Arent Fox and a go-to national security lawyer for domestic and foreign companies navigating the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and implementation of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) – the most sweeping overhaul of CFIUS in 40 years.

He advises defense contractors and other companies on issues of foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) in accordance with the government’s National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM).  Dave has experience advising clients on security clearance issues, and he helps companies ensure they have in place policies, procedures, training, and systems relevant for access to classified information.  Dave also provides cybersecurity advice and representation to companies that contract with federal agencies.

Prior to joining Arent Fox, Dave spent over 12 years on Capitol Hill, serving in a variety of national security staff positions, including as a Professional Staff Member on the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and as Counsel for National Security Affairs to Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), then-Senate Majority Whip. He was the primary staff architect of Sen. Cornyn’s FIRRMA legislation and the chief strategist behind its 2018 enactment.

While in the Senate, Dave worked on some of the most complex and multifaceted national security issues and technology-related challenges of the day. His duties included serving as the lead policy advisor to Sen. Cornyn on all intelligence, CFIUS, and related issues; devising, developing, and drafting FIRMMA, a comprehensive modernization of CFIUS; reviewing all classified CFIUS National Security Threat Assessments written by the Intelligence Community; and identifying emerging issues and formulating policy to maximize security for 5G mobile communications. He also drafted two pieces of legislation to address the growing problem of intellectual property theft by foreign actors.

Dave also held various staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives, including at the House International Relations Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Committee on House Administration.

Previously, Dave also served on active duty in the U.S. Army for three years as a JAG officer in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He deployed to Iraq for 11 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which he served as the Brigade Judge Advocate and the Brigade Trial Counsel for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. In this role, he was the lead prosecutor and principal attorney for commanders at various levels. He also served as a Civil and Administrative Law Attorney and a Legal Assistance Attorney at the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Dave received his BS from Indiana University in 1999 and his JD from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 2003.

For more of Mr. Hanke’s media hits, click here.