David Aaron
David Aaron

David Aaron

Senior Counsel

Washington DC | New York

david.aaron@ashurstperkins.com

Introduction

David counsels and represents clients in matters involving cybersecurity, incident response, data protection, risk management, government investigations, national security, and law enforcement.

David Aaron is a former prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), National Security Division, and a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney. His experience includes investigating and litigating cases involving insider threats, malicious cyber activity, theft of trade secrets, undisclosed foreign government influence, and export control violations. He also worked closely with elements of the U.S. Intelligence Community on intelligence collection programs. While serving as a national security attorney, David advised senior leadership on security threats and developed and implemented data privacy compliance programs.

David's work at DOJ focused on the Espionage Act, Economic Espionage Act (EEA), Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), Electronic Communication Privacy Act (ECPA), and related data security and privacy authorities such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). David has substantial experience working with U.S. law enforcement and national security agencies.[show-more]

David is frequently interviewed by leading media outlets, including ABC News, Bloomberg News, CBS News, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Reuters among others, for his insights into prominent national security cases and investigations.

David's pro bono work includes representing a group of veterans associations before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia as amici in support of a disabled veteran and representing Afghan nationals seeking asylum in the United States.

Among other distinctions, David was the recipient of multiple Assistant Attorney General's Awards and two Attorney General's Awards for Distinguished Service. He holds a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) certification, was a fellow in Advanced Cyber Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and in the Center for Biosecurity's Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative, and earned a master's degree in cybersecurity from Brown University, where he received the Master's Award for Professional Excellence.

Education & credentials

  • Brown University, Executive Master, Cybersecurity, 2018
  • Fordham University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, Fordham Law Review, 2000
  • Wesleyan University, B.A., College of Social Studies, 1995
  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • Rhode Island
  • U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, Washington, D.C., National Coordinator, Non-Traditional Collector Threat, 2020-2022; Acting Deputy Chief for Counterintelligence, 2021; Trial Attorney, 2014-2022; served as Liaison to the FBI Cyber Division, the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, and the National Counterintelligence Task Force
  • U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Washington, D.C., Trial Attorney (Detail Assignment), Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, 2014
  • U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, Washington, D.C., Attorney, Office of Intelligence, 2005-2014; Office of Law and Policy (Detail Assignment), 2011-2014
  • U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria, VA, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Detail Assignment), 2007-2008
  • New York County District Attorney’s Office, New York, NY, Assistant District Attorney, Appeals Bureau and Trial Bureau 50, 2000-2005

Professional recognition

  • Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Excellence, 2018, 2020, 2021

  • Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, 2015, 2019

  • National Intelligence Analysis Award, Director of National Intelligence, 2015

  • Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, 2014

  • Certificate of Appreciation from Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2014

  • Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, 2012, 2013

  • Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Special Commendation, 2009

Impact

  • Rhode Island College Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technology, Advisory Board Member, 2025
  • New York City Bar Association, Technology, Cyber and Privacy Law Committee, 2024-2027 term
  • Roger Williams University School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Computer Crime
  • Ransomware Task Force Cryptocurrency Working Group, Member
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
  • Brown University School of Professional Studies, Providence, RI, Graduate Teaching Associate, Cybersecurity Law & Policy, 2018-2020
  • Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C., Fellow, Advanced Cyber Studies, 2017-2018
  • Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, Fellow, Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative, 2012
  • Roger Williams University School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Computer Crime
  • Ransomware Task Force Cryptocurrency Working Group, Member
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
  • Brown University School of Professional Studies, Providence, RI, Graduate Teaching Associate, Cybersecurity Law & Policy, 2018-2020
  • Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C., Fellow, Advanced Cyber Studies, 2017-2018
  • Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, Fellow, Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative, 2012

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