Nelson, David Daniel, 1956-

David Daniel Nelson (born 1956) is a former United States Foreign Service Officer and a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. He most notably served as U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay from 2010 to 2011.

Born in Minnesota, Nelson received a B.A. the University of Wisconsin and a master's degree in Economics from the University of Maryland. He joined the Foreign Service in 1979.

From 1982 to 1984, he served as a diplomat in Montevideo, Uruguay. He also served in Berlin, Madrid, Bonn, Quito, and the U.S. Consulate in Mérida, Yucatán. He has worked for the National Security Council as Senior Coordinator for the Sea Island G-8 Summit. He has served as Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, as Director of the Office of Terrorism Finance and Economic Sanctions, Director of the Iraq Reconstruction Task Force, and as Director of the Office of Monetary Affairs. Prior to becoming ambassador, he served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs.

Appointed Ambassador to Uruguay on December 29, 2009, Nelson presented his credentials on February 8, 2010. He left his post on May 23, 2011. In December 2011, Nelson was named senior manager of global government affairs & policy for the Americas at General Electric.

Nelson and his wife, Gloria have one son. He speaks Spanish and German.