A native southeast Missourian, “Dave” Banks serves as an informal adviser to Republicans on climate change, energy, manufacturing, and trade policy. He is Managing Director of Battle Group, LLC and has affiliations with several think tanks, including the Atlantic Council, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.
Banks has over 17 years of federal government experience in the legislative and executive branches. He most recently served as Chief Strategist for Republicans on the House Select Climate Committee. Previously, he was President Donald Trump’s Special Assistant for International Energy and Environment at the National Economic and National Security Councils, Republican deputy staff director of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, Senior Advisor on International Affairs and Climate Change for President George W. Bush, a State Department foreign service officer, and CIA economic analyst.
During his government tenure, Banks received multiple meritorious awards, including the EPA Climate Protection Award for Diplomacy, a Department of State Superior Honor Award for promoting U.S. diplomatic objectives for the environment, and a Commendable Service Award from the Central Intelligence Agency. He holds a JD from George Mason University and a MA in economics and baccalaureate degrees in history, economics, and political science from the University of Missouri at St. Louis.