Bio, via Department of Defense:

Prior to his confirmation, Mr. Trachtenberg served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Shortwaver Consulting, LLC, a national security consultancy. From 2005-2007 he was a Vice President of CACI International and served from 2003-2005 as Senior Vice President for Homeland Security and Senior Vice President for Corporate Support at National Security Research, Inc. From 2001-2003, Mr. Trachtenberg was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, with responsibility for issues relating to NATO, Europe, Russia and Eurasia, technology security, counterproliferation, missile defense, nuclear forces, and arms control. During this period, he also served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Forces Policy, overseeing the office responsible for the Nuclear Posture Review and providing policy rationale leading to the withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and deployment of an initial national missile defense capability. He headed numerous interagency delegations abroad in support of the President's direction to encourage international cooperation on missile defense, leading discussions with the Russian Federation on this topic. From 1995-2001, he was a Professional Staff Member on the House Armed Services Committee. In 2003, Mr. Trachtenberg was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest honorary award presented by DOD to private citizens. Mr. Trachtenberg received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He is widely published and was an adjunct professor in Missouri State University's Defense and Strategic Studies program.