Of-Counsel Attorney
Aegis was founded from a desire to love both the work we do and the people we do it with. That vision has come to life—through a team we’re proud of and clients who trust us as true partners. Every day, we work to bring greater efficiency and innovation to legal services, improving quality while reducing costs. Our focus on the space industry stems from a deep belief in its potential to serve humanity, and we’re proud to be setting a new standard for legal accessibility.
David Greenlees is an attorney and former senior U.S. Department of State export compliance official with more than 30 years of experience spanning government, military service, and the private sector. He advises clients on U.S. export controls, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), internal investigations, voluntary disclosures, enforcement matters, and compliance program development. His extensive government experience provides clients with valuable firsthand insight into how regulators assess compliance risks, investigate violations, and evaluate corrective actions.
Prior to joining Aegis, David served as a Senior Compliance Specialist with the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), where he reviewed more than 500 disclosures and helped oversee significant ITAR enforcement matters and consent agreements. He subsequently served as a Special Compliance Officer under a Department of State consent agreement. David has also served on the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and is an instructor with the Export Compliance Training Institute (ECTI).
David is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel with 24 years of service, including a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and assignments in Japan, Korea, and Washington, DC. He is admitted to practice law in California, Michigan, and the District of Columbia and is the founder of Greenlees Global Advisors LLC.
David earned his Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from The George Washington University. He also completed a Comparative Law Program at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
David lives in Maryland with his wife. They have two adult daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys international travel, live music, photography, and history. He has visited more than 50 countries.
for the commercial space industry
David focuses his practice in the following areas (with the following percentages showing approximate time spent per area for current clients)
