David Kenneth Schenker was born on April 3, 1968, in New Jersey to Jewish parents Linda and Michael Schenker. He grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, graduating from Ridgewood High School in 1986. After earning a B.A. from the University of Vermont in 1990, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, and a certificate from the Center for Arabic Study Abroad at the American University in Cairo, Schenker began his career as a research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, focusing on Arab governance issues. He also worked as a project coordinator for USAID-funded programs in Egypt and Jordan. In 2002, he joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense as Levant country director under Donald Rumsfeld, advising on military and political affairs in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories, for which he received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service in 2005.

Returning to the Washington Institute in 2006 as Aufzien Fellow and director of the Beth and David Geduld Program on Arab Politics (later Linda and Tony Rubin Program), Schenker authored books including 'Dancing with Saddam: The Strategic Tango of Jordanian-Iraqi Relations' (2003) and 'Palestinian Democracy and Governance: An Appraisal of the Legislative Council' (2001), as well as numerous op-eds, PolicyWatches, and chapters on topics like Hezbollah, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. Nominated in 2018 and confirmed by the Senate on June 5, 2019, he served as the 24th Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs until January 20, 2021, overseeing U.S. policy across 18 countries from Morocco to Yemen, managing over 9,000 staff and a $7 billion budget, advancing efforts on human rights, counterterrorism, the Abraham Accords, and countering Iran. He is known for his hawkish views on Iran and close ties to U.S. defense contractors.

Since 2021, Schenker has been the Taube Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, continuing his analysis of Arab politics. He maintains an active presence on social media, including Twitter/X (@davidschenker1), and is based in Washington, D.C.