Former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Rachel Ellehuus

Ms. Rachel Ellehuus is the Secretary of Defense Representative in Europe (SECDEFREPEUR) and the Defense Advisor (DEFAD) for the U.S. Mission to NATO. As SECDEFREPEUR, she is responsible for executive level planning, recommending, coordinating, and monitoring Department of Defense policies, programs, and initiatives in Europe. As DEFAD, she is responsible for the formulation, coordination, and presentation of DoD policies to the U.S. Ambassador to NATO.

The Office of the Defense Advisor is comprised of 40 mid- and senior-level military and civilian members from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Ellehuus assumed duties as Defense Advisor at the U.S. Mission in February 2022.

Prior to joining the U.S. Mission, Ms Ellehuus served as Senior Fellow and Deputy Director with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Prior assignments in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense include Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and Principal Director for European and NATO Policy, and Director for South and Central Europe. Ms. Ellehuus was based in London, assigned to the Strategy Unit in the UK Ministry of Defense.

Ms Ellehuus speaks Danish, German, French, and Spanish.

Ms Ellehuus holds a B.A. in international relations and German from Colgate University and an M.A. in political science and European affairs from the College of Europe (Bruges/Natolin).