David J. Kostelancik is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).

He was a career member of the US Senior Foreign Service, holding the rank of Minister Counselor. David served as deputy coordinator for terrorism prevention and detention in the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism from 2024 to 2025. From 2021 to 2023, he was foreign policy adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Kostelancik spent 20 years in overseas postings, including as deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Hungary. He also served at US embassies in Russia (twice), Albania and Turkey, as well as at the US missions to NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. His Washington assignments included director of the Office of South Central European Affairs and director of the Office of Russian Affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, and director of the Office of Europe and Asia in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. President Biden nominated Kostelancik to serve as US ambassador to Albania, a nomination unanimously endorsed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and political science from Northwestern University, a master’s degree in Russian and East European studies from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science degree in national security strategy from the National War College. His honors include multiple State Department awards, the Defense Department’s Senior Civilian Medal, and Slovakia’s Distinguished Service Medal of Honor.

Kostelancik and his wife have three adult sons. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan.