David Lamm

David Lamm is the Deputy Director of the NESA Center. Mr. Lamm assumed the duties of Deputy Director in 2010 after serving as the Chief of Staff from 2007 to 2009. He is a native of Hamburg, New York and a Distinguished Military Graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo and was commissioned in 1977.

Mr. Lamm held a variety of staff and command positions, beginning his career as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Support Platoon Leader, and Battalion Logistics Officer with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Infantry, Berlin Brigade. From 1981-1985 he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, serving consecutively as a Company Commander; Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company; and Brigade Adjutant. Mr. Lamm then served as a Battalion and Brigade Operations Officer in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division from 1991-1993 and as Chief of Training, XVIII Airborne Corps from 1993-1994. He commanded Phantom Command, III Corps and Fort Hood from 1994-1996 and was the Secretary of the General Staff, III Corps and Fort Hood in 1997. 

Mr. Lamm then served as the Joint Staff’s Chief of Plans and Operations, Operations Directorate (Information Operations) from 1997-1999. He was the Commander, U.S. Army Central Command, Kuwait (2000-2002) and then the Chief of Staff, Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan (2004-2005). From 2006-2007 he served consecutively as the Director for Afghanistan (Office of the Secretary of Defense) and as the Interagency Coordinator for the Defense Policy Analysis Office, (Office of the Secretary of Defense).

On the academic side, Mr. Lamm completed course work for a doctorate at Duke University (1985-1990) and served as an Assistant Professor of History at the United States Military Academy at West Point. During 2003, he served as Professor of Strategy at the National War College (National Defense University). In June 2006, he completed the NESA Center’s Executive Seminar on “Strategic Communication and the Challenges of Globalization.” Mr. Lamm’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Artillery Officer’s Advance Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He is a qualified Joint Staff Officer.

His analytical works include: “From Kabul to Baghdad and Back,” analyzing the key strategic decisions that shaped the courses of the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq; “Manning the Machine,” a critical examination of the Army’s individual replacement system, conducted for the Chief of Staff of the Army in 2001; “The Post-Cold War Army,” an analysis conducted for the Chief of Staff of the Army, later published in Military Review, (1991); “The War of 1812,” an annotated bibliography for the Book of Days.

His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (3 awards), the Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Bronze Star Medal (2 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Awards), the Joint Service Commendation Medal (2 Awards), and the Army Commendation Medal. He is authorized to wear the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Joint Staff Badge.