Oct 28, 2025
Peraton announced today that David M. Cattler, former Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), has joined the company’s board of advisors. Cattler brings more than 35 years of leadership experience across the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and NATO, where he led transformational change, integration, and mission modernization at the enterprise level.
“David’s record of strategic leadership and operational excellence across the defense and intelligence communities will bring tremendous value to Peraton as we continue to advance our mission of integration, innovation, and performance,” said Steve Schorer, chairman, president, and CEO, Peraton. “He understands how to drive transformation in complex organizations and how to strengthen public-private collaboration, which is exactly the insight we need as Peraton evolves for the next phase of growth.”
Cattler’s career highlights include:
- Senior leader in the United States’ Intelligence Community, including service as chairman of the National Intelligence Management Council, manager of National Intelligence for the Near East, and principal deputy officer of National Intelligence for Military Issues
- Former NATO assistant secretary general for Intelligence and Security
- U.S. Navy veteran, beginning his career as a surface warfare officer serving in the Pacific then later ashore with naval intelligence
Following 9/11, he returned to public service with naval intelligence and was rapidly promoted to the senior executive service in 2007. Over the next decade, he held senior analytical and mission management roles, spearheading military and Near East issues for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He subsequently served as NATO’s assistant secretary general for Intelligence and Security, leading the Alliance’s intelligence and security enterprise. Most recently, as director of DCSA, he oversaw a $3.2 billion enterprise responsible for safeguarding the U.S. government’s trusted workforce and industrial base. During his tenure, DCSA achieved significant operational and performance improvements, including modernization of its background investigation mission, advancements in insider-threat detection and risk management, and strengthened collaboration across government and industry.
“I’m honored to join Peraton’s Advisory Board and contribute to the company’s mission of advancing innovation and supporting the nation’s most critical operations,” said Cattler. “It is a privilege to serve alongside such a distinguished group of leaders dedicated to strengthening national security.”
Cattler earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in policy management from Georgetown University.
Peraton’s Board of Advisors is composed of distinguished leaders from government, military, and industry who provide strategic insight and guidance to support the company’s mission to solve the most daunting challenges in national security, defense, and intelligence.
