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David Kostelancik

Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

DoD Photo by JoAnne Sorrentino
  • David Kostelancik
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David J. Kostelancik, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, rank of Minister Counselor, began his service as foreign policy advisor to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, in August 2021. Mr. Kostelancik previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission, and for two years, as Charge d’affaires, at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest Hungary where he provided leadership and policy guidance to the Mission’s more than 350 person staff. Other assignments at the Department of State include as Director of the Office of South Central European Affairs and as Director of the Office of Russian Affairs, both in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, as well as Director of the Office of Europe and Asia in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Earlier in his career, he served twice at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, including an assignment as Special Assistant to Ambassador Thomas Pickering, including responsibilities for outreach throughout Russia and speech writing. Other overseas postings include the U.S. Mission to the OSCE and the U.S. Mission to NATO, focusing at both missions on security cooperation with Russia, the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, Albania and the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. He also served at the National Security Council, concentrating on U.S. relations with Central European countries.

Mr. Kostelancik received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University in Mathematics and Political Science, a Master of Arts degree from The University of Michigan in Russian and East European Studies, and a Master of Science degree from the National War College in national security policy. He speaks Russian, Hungarian, Albanian and Turkish. He and his wife are parents to three adult sons.