Director of Federal Firearms, Presidential Pardons, and White-Collar Defense | Senior Military Law Attorney
Former United States Attorney | Army Judge Advocate | West Point Graduate
Duane “DAK” Kees brings decades of experience at the highest levels of federal law enforcement, military justice, and government decision-making. After being nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, DAK served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas—the district’s chief federal law enforcement officer.
As United States Attorney, DAK supervised federal prosecutors, directed complex criminal investigations, evaluated charging decisions, and worked closely with federal agencies on matters involving white-collar crime, public corruption, national security, violent crime, child exploitation, and other serious federal offenses. He also served on multiple Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittees, including Veterans and Servicemembers, White Collar Fraud, and Terrorism and National Security, contributing to discussions and recommendations affecting federal law-enforcement policy nationwide.
Before leading a United States Attorney’s Office, DAK served as an Army Judge Advocate, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He advised commanders, investigated allegations of misconduct, and handled military justice matters as both a prosecutor and defense counsel. His military experience gives him firsthand insight into how commanders, investigators, and legal authorities evaluate evidence, credibility, rehabilitation, accountability, and risk.
Today, DAK directs National Security Law Firm’s Federal Firearms, Presidential Pardons, and White-Collar Defense practices and serves as a senior attorney within the firm’s Military Law Practice.
In the firm’s federal firearms practice, DAK represents clients seeking relief from federal firearm prohibitions, including applications under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), matters involving federal convictions, and cases requiring careful analysis of rehabilitation, public safety, criminal history, and the public interest. His background as a former United States Attorney is especially valuable in developing applications that directly address the concerns federal decision-makers are required to evaluate.
DAK also leads the firm’s presidential-pardon practice for federal and military convictions. He helps clients develop comprehensive clemency petitions supported by evidence of rehabilitation, acceptance of responsibility, post-conviction conduct, community contributions, professional accomplishments, and a demonstrated need for relief. Although clemency is discretionary and no attorney can guarantee a pardon, DAK understands how to present a client’s history with the candor, documentation, and strategic judgment that serious federal decision-making demands.
Across his practice, DAK represents service members, veterans, executives, professionals, contractors, and federal employees facing consequential government action. Having served as both a senior federal prosecutor and military attorney, he understands how government agencies investigate allegations, identify risk, weigh mitigating evidence, and make decisions affecting careers, reputations, firearm rights, military service, and personal freedom.
That perspective allows him to anticipate government concerns, identify weaknesses before they become obstacles, and build disciplined, evidence-based strategies designed to achieve the strongest available outcome.
Jurisdiction Admitted: Arkansas. Represents clients nationwide in federal administrative, military, national security, security-clearance, presidential-pardon, federal-firearms, and white-collar defense matters where permitted.
Education: J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law; B.S., United States Military Academy at West Point.