Our Team

Hee-Eun Kim is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy (CAPS), a Washington DC-based international security think tank that provides policy recommendations about present and future threats to security and stability across the Asia Pacific region. Her mission is to bring awareness to leaders and the general public about real-world defense and security issues pertaining to Asia Pacific nations.

Mrs. Kim received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and her Master’s degree in International Relations (Foreign Policy and National Security) from SungKyunKwan University in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

From 2007 – 2008 Mrs. Kim worked at the Gyeonggi Research Institute, a think tank affiliated with Korean Government research on the US-ROK Alliance and US Forces Korea. While at GRI she led the Kaesung Industrial Complex outreach program.

From 2009 – 2011 Mrs. Kim served as the chief manager for an exchange program between the United States and ROK at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, where she led the pilot program to include North Korean defectors students in the exchange program.

From 2011 – 2012, she served on the staff of the Senior Secretary of Foreign Policy and National Security within Cheonghwadae, the Office of the President. She was responsible for writing the monthly internal Think Tank Report and led the outreach program for the Senior Secretary of National Security.

At the end of the Presidential administrative term in 2012, Mrs. Kim joined the staff of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea located in Seoul. She initially started her position as International Relations Officer at the Multi-national Logistics Division and moved her position as the Chief of United Nations Command (UNC) Logistics Branch.

In 2016 Mrs. Kim was appointed as Deputy Director of Political-Military Engagement on the Commander’s Strategic Initiatives Group for the US four-star Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. She supported Commander and the leadership group as a Pol-Mil Advisor and plan and execute Key Leaders Engagements.

In 2020, she established the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy in Washington DC as a non-governmental and multinational think tank. Recently, she also joined on the Advisory Board for the Economic Conflict & Competition Research Group at King’s College London.

Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army Special Forces
Colonel (Ret.) David Maxwell is also a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation(where he focuses on civil society support to a free and unified Korea). He is the Editor-in-Chief of Small Wars Journal. He is a 30-year veteran of the US Army, retiring as a Special Forces Colonel and has worked in Asia for more than over 30 years, primarily in Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. Colonel Maxwell served on the United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command / United States Forces Korea CJ3 staff where he was a planner for UNC/CFC OPLAN 5027-98 and co-author of the original ROK JCS – UNC/CFC CONPLAN 5029-99 (north Korean instability and regime collapse). He later served as the Director of Plans, Policy, and Strategy and then Chief of Staff for the Special Operations Command Korea. He commanded the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JSOTF-P), served as the G3 for the United States Army Special Operations Command and culminated his service as a member of the military faculty at the National War College.

Following retirement, he served as the Associate Director of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (2011-2017). Colonel Maxwell is a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies, an advisor to Spirit of America, and on the Board of Directors of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, the International Council of Korean Studies, the Council on Korean-US Security Studies, the Special Operations Research Association, the OSS Society, and the Small Wars Journal. He earned a B.A. in political science from Miami University, and an M.A. in Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and an M.S. in National Security Studies from the National War College. Colonel Maxwell teaches “Unconventional Warfare and Special Operations for Policy Makers and Strategists.”

Major General (Ret.), Republic of Korea Army
Major General (Ret.) Kwang-Hyun Chang graduated from the Korean Military Academy in 1983. He accomplished a great deal of major command and staff positions in various units and policy departments throughout his 35-year military service. In particular, he served as Chief of Staff of the Army Chiefs of Staff in 2010 after being promoted to General in 2009, and in 2011 as Chief of Operations 1 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 2012 to 2013, he served as commander of the 51^st Infantry Division. In 2014, he served as Chief of Staff of the FROKA(1^st ROK Army). In a highlight, in 2015, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff of the UNC MAC following his assignment as the CFC’s Deputy Chief of Operations. In 2016, he retired on December 31^st after last serving as commander of the Army Aviation Operations Command. And also Major General (Ret.) served as COO & CFO at the Military Mutual Aid Association from May 1, 2017 to May 31, 2020. He is now working as a professor of “Innovation Strategy Leadership” and “Defense Convergence Leadership” at Mid-West University (U.S. Missouri).   

Major General (Ret.) is a person who was exceptionally busy in his military life but did not neglect studying for his own development, earning a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Yeungnam University Graduate School of Business in 1987. In 2019, he completed the MBA course at Yonsei University Graduate School of Business.He also earned a Doctorate in Engineering from Ajou University Graduate School in 2019. His doctoral dissertation was “A Study on the Revitalization of the United Nations Command based on the Transfer of Wartime Operational Control.” He is currently writing a book about the United Nations Command (UNC), and his book is scheduled to be published in Korea in the summer of 2020.

Major General (Ret.) is well known as the right soldier who values laws and principles during all military life, and was also a soldier who devoted himself to strengthening the ROK-US alliance. This led to him receiving many medals and commendations. In 2002, he received a citation from the President of the Republic of Korea. And in 2002 and 2008, he received a Citation from the Secretary of the United States Army. In 2011, he received the National Security Medal, the “Cheonsu Medal” from the Korean Government. In 2016, he received the highest honorable LOM (Legend Of Merit), awarded to foreign military officers from the US Government, and also received the ‘Michael Knight Award’ from the US Army Aviation Association.

Brigadier (Ret.), UK Army
Brigadier (Ret.) Andrew Cliffe currently works as an executive consultant and program director for a global infrastructure and project management company. He works at the interface between public and private sectors helping to recover distressed defense programs. His particular forte is developing collaborative relationships.

For much of his professional career Andrew served as an officer in the British Army. His final appointment was the Defense Attaché to the Republic of Korea (ROK). This privileged position gave him insight into the military and diplomatic dynamics of the region. He was the Commonwealth Member to the United Nations Command Military Armistice Committee (UNCMAC); participated in the annual UK-ROK exercise program; and worked closely with ROK Armed Forces as they engaged in counter-piracy, Ebola containment and peace-keeping operations overseas.

Prior to this appointment Andrew led the UK Defense security capacity building program aimed at transitioning and fragile states around the world. Working across four continents he mentored senior defense and security officials in strategic analysis, defense management and senior leadership.

During a varied and diverse military career Andrew has worked in the UK Ministry of Defense; as part of joint and land forces; with development and diplomatic ministries; and participated in alliances and multi-national organisations. He was fortunate to command at all levels up to brigade. Andrew has deployed on training and operations around the world including humanitarian, counter-insurgency and stabilization operations. As a combat engineer his specialties include countering improvised explosive devices, critical national infrastructure and protective buildings.

Andrew has degrees in business administration, defense technology and civil engineering. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Royal Engineers. In 2016 he was honored as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Andrew continues to maintain close links with UK armed forces and serves part-time as an Army Reserve with responsibilities for civil-military cooperation and security capacity building. He lives just outside London, close to where he resided before a military career intervened. He has two grown up children, now making their way in the world.

Former member of the Victorian Parliament
The Hon. Philip Dalidakis  was a Member of the Victorian Parliament from 2014 to 2019 and served as Victoria’s Minister for Innovation & the Digital Economy, Trade & Investment and Small Business from July 2015 to December 2018.

As Minister, Philip created a bold vision for Victoria as a leading biotech, innovation and technology hub across the Asia Pacific attracting the Australian offices of global startups and technology companies such as Slack, Square, Stripe, Zendesk, Etsy, Eventbrite, GoPro and Uber in Melbourne. During his time as a Minister, Philip implemented a cybersecurity strategy that led to the creation of the Oceania Cyber Security Centre, and a number of international MoUs between Victoria and the United States and Israel.

As Trade & Investment Minister, Philip grew the international office network, successfully rebranded it & oversaw a number of country and regional strategies in China, India, ASEAN and also Latin America.

Before being elected to the Victorian Parliament, Mr Dalidakis worked in various roles in the public and private sectors, including Deloitte, ASX-listed Centro Properties Group, CEO of a major industry association and as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Senate leader & Communications Minister, the Hon Stephen Conroy. Most recently, Philip worked at Australia Post as Executive General Manager, Corporate Services, where he was a member of the executive leadership team.

Well regarded for his vast experience across business, government and public policy Mr Dalidakis is currently a Non-Executive Director (NED) at Impact for Women, a volunteer run charity making a difference to women and children fleeing extreme violence at home as well as holding the position of NED and Chair of the Audit & Risk committee at GrowthOps, an ASX listed services company operating across the Asia Pacific.

Mr Dalidakis has a Master of Commerce from UNSW as well as a double degree in Arts (Politics and Thai Language) and Business (Management) from Monash University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers & Leaders and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Major General (Ret.), Swiss Army
Major General (Ret.) Urs Gerber is the president of the Foundation Council of the Swiss Armed Forces’ Historic Material Foundation an institution responsible for collecting, maintaining and developing the “hardware legacy” of the Swiss Armed Forces.

He is co-chairing the Annual Senior Officers Seminar (ASOS) on leadership and crisis management at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and is continuing to give talks and lectures on the situation in and around the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, he is representing the Swiss Armed Forces on the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS). Until the end of 2019 he has been the editor-in-chief of the Swiss Military Power Revue, a military-strategic publication of the Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces.

From February 2012 until August 2017 MajGen Gerber has been the Swiss Member and Head of the Swiss Delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, Panmunjeom, Republic of Korea, from where he retired at the end of August 2017.

Educated as historian at the University of Berne he worked as a research assistant for the Swiss National Fund before joining the Swiss General Staff in 1984 as a civil servant. After a short assignment to the Plans & Policy Directorate, Urs Gerber worked for an extended period in senior positions at the Strategic Intelligence Service heading the Analysis Division from 1998-99.

After a short stint as Senior Project Manager for Military Strategy he headed from 2002-2003 the Swiss Verification Unit mainly responsible for the implementation of arms control agreements. From 2004-2011 Urs Gerber was Head of the Euro-Atlantic Security Co-operation Division. In this capacity he has been responsible for all multilateral activities of the Swiss Armed Forces and its relations within the framework of UN, OSCE and EAPC-PfP as well as for arms control and disarmament issues of the Swiss Ministry of Defence.

From 2006-2011 he has also been the Deputy Director of the International Relations Directorate of the Swiss Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence.

In parallel to his professional career, Urs Gerber started his militia (reserve) military career in 1973. 1981-85 he has been serving as an infantry company commander. After graduation in 1986 to general staff officer he has been assigned ACOS Intel (1986-1990) and ACOS Ops (1995-96) at division staff level. From 1991-94 Urs Gerber commanded an infantry battalion in Field Division 3 (Inf). From 1997-2003 he was assigned to the staff of 1^st Field Army Corps as a senior adviser to the commanding general and as ACOS Intel (1998-99).

2004-2011 he has been a senior staff officer on the Military Strategic Staff of the Chief of the Armed Forces. Upon decision of the Swiss government of October 2011 he was promoted to Major General to take over the Swiss Delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, Panmunjeom, Republic of Korea, by 21 February 2012.

Apart from national (general) staff and flag officer courses, Urs Gerber graduated from the ITC of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) (1993/94) and from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) (2000) in London.

Hee-Eun Kim is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy (CAPS), a Washington DC-based international security think tank that provides policy recommendations about present and future threats to security and stability across the Asia Pacific region. Her mission is to bring awareness to leaders and the general public about real-world defense and security issues pertaining to Asia Pacific nations.

Mrs. Kim received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and her Master’s degree in International Relations (Foreign Policy and National Security) from SungKyunKwan University in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

From 2007 – 2008 Mrs. Kim worked at the Gyeonggi Research Institute, a think tank affiliated with Korean Government research on the US-ROK Alliance and US Forces Korea. While at GRI she led the Kaesung Industrial Complex outreach program.

From 2009 – 2011 Mrs. Kim served as the chief manager for an exchange program between the United States and ROK at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, where she led the pilot program to include North Korean defectors students in the exchange program.

From 2011 – 2012, she served on the staff of the Senior Secretary of Foreign Policy and National Security within Cheonghwadae, the Office of the President. She was responsible for writing the monthly internal Think Tank Report and led the outreach program for the Senior Secretary of National Security.

At the end of the Presidential administrative term in 2012, Mrs. Kim joined the staff of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea located in Seoul. She initially started her position as International Relations Officer at the Multi-national Logistics Division and moved her position as the Chief of United Nations Command (UNC) Logistics Branch.

In 2016 Mrs. Kim was appointed as Deputy Director of Political-Military Engagement on the Commander’s Strategic Initiatives Group for the US four-star Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. She supported Commander and the leadership group as a Pol-Mil Advisor and plan and execute Key Leaders Engagements.

In 2020, she established the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy in Washington DC as a non-governmental and multinational think tank. Recently, she also joined on the Advisory Board for the Economic Conflict & Competition Research Group at King’s College London.

Lawrence Monaco served over 20 years in the United States Air Force as a linguist in what is now the Air Intelligence Agency. His joint and combined assignments began in the 6903rd Electronic Security Squadron at Osan Air Base, Korea, where he spent ten years as a Chinese and Korean linguist.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Monaco entered the United States Civil Service and returned to Korea as a Logistics Management Specialist. His assignments there, under the United States Forces Korea (USFK) Director of Logistics, J4, included: Wartime Host Nation Support Branch Chief; Chief Government Relations Branch and Chief, Multinational Logistics Division where he coordinated the provision and receipt of Mutual Logistics Support from the Republic of Korea.

While assigned to USFK, Mr. Monaco deployed to Iraq where he served as the Deputy Director of the Drawdown Fusion Center in Multi National Forces, Iraq (MNFI) during the drawdown of US forces from Iraq.

His final assignment in the Civil Service was as the Lead, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Maritime Electronic Warfare Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division where he enabled FMS Partners in the Navies of Egypt, Bahrain, Japan and Poland with Marine Electronic Warfare Systems.

He now serves as a Principal Specialist, Program Management with KBR, Inc., Missiles and Space Program Executive Office, Integrated Fires Mission Command Project Office in Huntsville, AL. He provides technical analysis support for the acquisition planning, controlling, and organizing of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program for the PATRIOT Air Defense Weapon System.

Professor, College of Law
University of the Philippines College of Law
Dr. Jay L Batongbacal is a lawyer with degrees in Political Science and Law from the University of the Philippines, as well as advanced degrees of Master of Marine Management and Doctor in the Science of Law, both from Dalhousie University in Canada. Since 1997, he has done diverse work and widely published on maritime affairs, including community based fisheries management, coastal resource management, marine environment protection, maritime boundaries, high seas fishing, offshore energy, seafaring, and shipping. He has carried out these research activities under the auspices of the Philippine Center for Marine Affairs between 1997-2003, as part of his own academic interests while undertaking his doctoral studies in Canada between 2003-2008, and as a member of the faculty of the UP College of Law from 2008 to the present. He has also served as legal/policy specialist on various foreign-assisted development/management projects such as the Coastal Resource Management Project, the Fisheries Resource Management Project, and the Coral Triangle Initiative Support Program.

Dr. Batongbacal has also conducted, upon request, many briefings and submitted opinions to various government offices, such as the Office of the President, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Cabinet Committee on Maritime and Ocean Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on National Defense of the Philippine Senate, among others. He remains actively involved with both government and non-government organization on many different issues involving a maritime component, including the mining and petroleum industries.

His commentaries and insights on Philippine maritime affairs have often appeared in traditional and online press in the Philippines and abroad. Dr. Batongbacal was legal advisor to the Philippine delegation that successfully pursued the Philippines’ claim to a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Benham Rise Region before the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He has also been listed among the UNESCO List of Experts on Marine Scientific Research for purposes of Special Arbitration under UNCLOS Annex VIII. He recently assisted the Philippines in making an application to the International Maritime Organization for the designation of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area in the Sulu Sea. Presently, he is a full Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law and chairs the Graduate Studies Committee which oversees the College’s LLM Program. He is concurrently Director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea of the U.P. Law Center.

Major General (Ret.) U.S. Army
Major General Eric Bush began his professional career by enlisting in the Army National Guard in 1984 and served in the combat arms until earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant through Officer Candidate School in 1988.  He was recognized as a distinguished graduate and selected as class leader.   Eric Bush holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Management and Communications from Corban University in Salem, Oregon and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Concurrent with his career as a member of the military reserve component, in 1989 Eric Bush began his civilian law enforcement career, serving in all ranks in a municipal law enforcement agency in Oregon.   Eric Bush’s civilian law enforcement career culminated as the Chief of Police, a position he held for 11 years.   

Eric Bush served in numerous combat arms leadership positions throughout his time in the US Army National Guard.  In 2007 he commanded the 82^nd Rear Operations Center and was responsible for the Oregon National Guard’s State Partnership with Singapore.  He served as the facilitator with the US Army / Singapore Armed Forces exercise “Tiger Balm”.   In 2009 he was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as the Base Defense Commander at Victory Base in Baghdad, Iraq. 

 In 2013 he took his first assignment with the Joint Force in the Western Pacific, being assigned as the Wartime Operations Officer for United State Forces Korea.  In 2016 he was assigned as the Deputy Logistics Officer for United States Indo- Pacific Command and then served his final assignment, back in Korea as the Deputy Combined Rear Area Coordinator, the senior U.S. military official assigned to liaison with the 2^nd ROK Army, and was promoted to Major General. 

After a long and in-depth series of assignments in the Pacific and after more than 36 years of service, in April 2021 Eric Bush retired and continues to serve local communities as a local county Emergency Management Coordinator.    

Director, Good Farmers (NGO)
Yong-Seung Dong graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Economics and a Ph.D. in Commerce from Sungkyunkwan University. From 1989 to July 2015, he studied North Korean economy and inter-Korean relations at the Samsung Economic Research Institute and served as the head of the economic security team. And he served also as the advisor of Blue House in Kim Dae-jung, Rho Moo-hyun, and Lee Moung-bak government. Currently, he is the director of Good Farmers (NGO).

동용승 소장은 연세대 경제학과를 졸업하고 성균관대 무역학 박사과정을 수료했습니다. 1989년부터 2015년 7월까지 삼성경제연구소에서 북한경제 및 남북관계를 연구했으며, 경제안보팀장(연구전문위원)을 역임했습니다. 김대중, 노무현, 이명박 정부에서 청와대 정책자문위원으로도 활동을 했습니다. 현재는 NGO 단체인 ‘굿파머스’ 사무총장을 맡고 있습니다. 주요 저서로는 ‘남북경협 이렇게 풀자(삼성경제연구소, 1995), ‘남북경협 가이드라인(삼성경제연구소,2001) 등이 있습니다. 

Vice President and Global Head of Security
Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM)
Brian Howell is the Vice President and Global Head of Security at ADM, providing oversight and strategic guidance of the company’s enterprise-wide corporate security function. In addition, he oversees the company’s Crisis Management and Business Continuity programs and serves on the Global Information and Cyber Security Council.

He joined ADM in 1995 and holds nearly two decades of operational and security-related experience. Prior to his current role, Brian managed many of the departments’ core service areas and most recently served as the Director of Security for ADM’s footprint in Europe, Middle East and Africa. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from the University of Illinois – Springfield and a Master’s degree from the University of Basel in Switzerland. Brian’s academic research focused on the proliferation of private security and military companies in Africa and he previously served as an adjunct faculty member at Richland Community College in Decatur, Illinois.

Major General (Ret.) U.S. Army
Paul Hurley received his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. He received his first Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN and his second Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Air Force University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Upon graduation from Texas A&M University, Mr. Hurley was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He spent the next 32 years in various positions of increasing responsibility, culminating his service as a Major General. As a General Officer, Mr. Hurley served in numerous leadership roles around the world, and throughout the Asia Pacific region.

From 2008-2010, Mr. Hurley was the Chief Logistics Officer for the Multi-National Corps in Iraq. This organization consisted of over 120,000 personnel from over 30 nations. In this capacity, he developed and managed the strategic supply, maintenance, and distribution planning for all combat operations and he oversaw the day-to-day operations for all logistics across Iraq.

From 2011-2014, Mr. Hurley was the Chief Executive Officer of the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Daegu, Korea, and the Chief Logistics Officer for United States Forces – Korea, Seoul, Korea. In these positions, Mr. Hurley was directly responsible for all aspects of supply chain and distribution operations that supported the 28,500 U.S. military personnel stationed in the Republic of Korea. Additionally, he was responsible for the strategic planning with over 30 international partner nations to improve distribution, supply, and medical support across the Northeast Asian region and the Korean Peninsula.

From 2015-2017, Mr. Hurley was the Chief Executive officer of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. In this position, Mr. Hurley managed the execution of all logistics operations supporting the US military operating across the entire Middle East and Central Asian states. He orchestrated supply chain, maintenance, distribution, human resources, and financial management in support of 22,000 military personnel and a diverse customer base of over 120,000 U.S. and international personnel in the region.

Since his retirement, Mr. Hurley oversees the strategic sourcing of aerospace composite materials for an Aerospace Company with a supply chain that extends around the world, to include sources of supply from across the Indo-Pacific region.

Founder & Director, FiscalNote
Tim Hwang is the Founder and CEO of FiscalNote. The company owns media and news company CQ Roll Call Group, which it acquired from The Economist Group in 2018 and creates a technology platform that combines award-winning journalism along with products and services that provide access to large quantities of data, news, and analysis for all levels of government. The global company with offices across DC, NYC, Baton Rouge, Brussels, India, and Seoul has now grown to become the largest tech employer headquartered in DC, and powers almost 5,000 of the world’s largest and most influential law firms, legal departments, and governments.

FiscalNote has raised over $230 million in venture capital and acquisition financing from the likes of The Economist, S&P Global, Mark Cuban, Jerry Yang, Steve Case, NEA, Renren and others.

Prior to founding FiscalNote, Hwang started his career in politics in the Obama ’08 campaign, assisting in the election of the first Obama Administration. He was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Education a year later, overseeing a budget of over $4 Billion for 22,000 public employees. As a student, Tim also served as the President of the National Youth Association and the founder of Operation Fly. Inc., – a national 501(c)(3) organization that served inner-city children in underprivileged areas around the country.

Tim was profiled in Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. 30 Under 30, CNN’s Top 10 Startups, Business Insiders Top 25 Hottest Startups, and many others. He is a graduate of Princeton and attended Harvard Business School. He is also currently a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, a Trustee on the Board of the Greater Washington Community Foundation (the largest funder of non-profit and philanthropic initiatives in the region) as well a Board member of The After School Alliance. He is a member of the The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., the Council of Korean Americans (CKA), and the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

Dr. Milo Jones is a Senior Adviser for Geopolitics and Technology for Grupo Arcano in Madrid and teaches Geopolitics and related topics to graduate students at IE University in Spain and Imperial College London. He is also a visiting research fellow at the Changing Character of War Centre, Pembroke College, Oxford University. In 2013, Stanford University Press published Constructing Cassandra: Reframing Intelligence Failure at the CIA, 1947-2001, based on his Ph.D. dissertation.

In the past, Milo worked for Accenture in London and at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter in New York. He began his working life serving as an officer in the US Marine Corps and graduated from the US Army’s Airborne School. Milo has a Ph.D. and MA in International Relations with Distinction from the University of Kent, an MBA from London Business School, and a BA in Art History from Northwestern University. He is currently a Fellow of the Center for the Study of Digital Life, a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. A native of Manhattan, Milo lives in Warsaw.

Former Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Foreign Ministry
Bilahari Kausikan spent his entire career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore (MFA). Over 37 years in MFA, he served in a variety of appointments at home and abroad. These included Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Deputy Secretary for South-east Asia, Second Permanent Secretary, and subsequently Permanent Secretary. Upon retiring in 2013, he was appointed Ambassador-at-Large, a position he held until 2018. Mr Kausikan became Chairman of the Middle East Institute (MEI), an autonomous institute of the National University of Singapore, in 2017, and retired in 2024, but remains associated with the institute as Honorary Fellow.

Mr Kausikan has published three books — “Dealing with an Ambiguous World” (2016), “Singapore Is Not An Island” (2017) and “Singapore Is Still Not An Island” (2023) — along with many articles in local and international journals. He continues to lecture on global geopolitics, and developments in North-east Asia, the Middle East, and South-east Asia, to universities and other educational institutions in Singapore and abroad, as well as corporations and financial institutions. Raffles Institution, the University of Singapore and Columbia University.

Admiral (Ret.) , Japan Navy
Admiral Kawano was the 5th Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan Self-Defense Forces from 2014 to 2019. From 2012 to 2014, he served as Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. He previously served as the Commander in Chief of the Self Defense Fleet, Fleet Escort Force, Mine Warfare Force, Escort Flotilla 3, and Escort Division 3. Ashore, Admiral Kawano previously was the Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, and the Director General of Operations and Plans Department Maritime Staff Office (MSO). His earlier career as a surface warfare officer includes assignments aboard JS Haruna and JS Shirane, and as the Commanding Officer of JS Oyodo. Admiral Kawano was awarded the Legion of Merit in 2012 and 2019 for his contributions to strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Admiral Kawano received his master’s in International Relations from Tsukuba University, and his bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the National Defense Academy. He is also a graduate of the Command and Staff Course at the U.S. Naval War College.

Professor of Strategic Foreign Policy
King’s College London
Greg Kennedy is Professor of Strategic Foreign Policy at King’s College London and joined the Defence Studies Department in June 2000. He has taught at the Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, for both the History and War Studies Departments. He is an adjunct Professor of that university. His PhD (Hons) in History is from the University of Alberta, with an MA in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada, and a BA (Hons) in History from the University of Saskatchewan. He has published internationally on strategic foreign policy issues, maritime defence, disarmament, diplomacy, economic warfare, deterrence and intelligence.

He was a founding member and Director of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies from 2008-2023 and is the founder and current Director of the Economic Conflict and Competition Research Group: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/economic-conflict-and-competition-research-group which is a joint KCL and UK Ministry of Defence Initiative.

Co-Director of the Global Systemic Risk Group at Princeton University
Paul Larcey worked initially in a corporate research environment, followed by venture capital, before moving into global industrial sectors at board and senior levels closely involved in funding strategies for major projects (public and private), primarily in the engineering and technology sectors, M&A, Private Equity, Venture Capital and risk analysis in challenging environments. He has also worked in strategic management consulting, focusing on technology and sustainability. Currently working for the UK government’s innovation body across key technology themes, such as quantum technologies, AI, Robotics, and Advanced manufacturing, to assist collaboration between academia, the private sector and investors. Academic research areas of interest are applied complexity theory, systems thinking, understanding resilience in systems and the fragility of new technologies, seeking to develop methodologies and frameworks, and a cross-disciplinary understanding of systemic risk from academic and practitioner perspectives. He has studied Engineering, Materials Science and Finance at London, Oxford, and Cambridge Universities.

Major General (Ret.), U.S. Marine Corps
President, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
Major General James W. Lukeman retired from active duty on July 1, 2020 after 40 years of continuous active service. He was born in Beaufort, South Carolina and was raised in a Marine Corps family. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and was commissioned through the NROTC program in 1980.

Major General Lukeman’s assignments in the operating forces included Rifle and Weapons Platoon Commander in Alpha Company and 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines; Assistant Operations Officer and Company Commander of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines; Executive Officer of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines; and Operations Officer, 1st Marine Division. He commanded 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-7 and G-3 for the 1st Marine Division in Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

Other assignments include Director of the Career Course at the Staff NCO academy at Quantico, Virginia; Operations Officer, Alpha Company, Marine Security Guard Battalion in Frankfurt, Germany; Marine Officer Instructor at the NROTC Unit at the University of Texas at Austin; Assistant for Strategy and Force Planning in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Commanding Officer, Security Battalion and Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; Chief of Staff for Training and Education Command; and Military Assistant to the Assistant Commandant.

As a General Officer, he served as Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans, J5, US Africa
Command; Commanding General of the Second Marine Division; Commanding General, Training and Education Command; Assistant Chief of Staff, U/C/J-5, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea and Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea; and Inspector General of the Marine Corps.

Major General Lukeman is a graduate of the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) U.S. Air Force
General (Ret.) Jerry Martinez recently completed a 33-year distinguished career in the United States Air Force.  Throughout his tenure, he succeeded in numerous high-level positions.  In his final assignment, he was the Commander of US Forces Japan, responsible for managing bilateral security issues and serving as the military focal point for negotiations with the Government of Japan on a wide range of issues.  In this capacity, he oversaw 54,000 members of the Armed Forces.  He also served as the senior US officer in the Netherlands, working with 28 NATO countries, where he developed NATO responses to the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, as well as oversaw operations of NATO forces in Afghanistan.  Additionally, Jerry was selected for the prestigious Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow Program, where he served in the DuPont Corporation in Wilmington Delaware.  This 1-year program provided exposure to corporate strategy, profit and loss, investor relations, sales and marketing, and C-Suite executive leadership. While at DuPont, he expertly taught leadership to executives at all levels in the company.  He has tremendous experience in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, while operating at very senior levels, to include with heads of state.  He brings strong leadership and a global understanding of National Security and strategy, combined with government relations.

Since his retirement from the Air Force in April, Jerry has been involved with many activities.  He is currently a Vice President in Allegiant Air, based at their corporate headquarters in Las Vegas.  Additionally, he has been active on the speaking circuit, providing speeches on National Security to numerous organizations.  These include: The Maritime/Air Systems Technology Asia, The National Defense Transportation Association, The Defense and Security Equipment International, and The Japan Cuts Hollywood Film Festival.  He also served as a podcast keynote guest with SAGE International, an Australian think tank dedicated to deepening the understanding of global strategic and political issues.  Jerry has also been active in the business world.  He has formed a consulting LLC and advised on issues regarding national defense, pilot retention, Afghanistan logistics, and future operations of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.  Additionally, he is a partial owner of a Japanese non-profit, the International Security Industry Council.  The Council’s charter is to provide a forum to connect businesses both in Japan and throughout the US and Pacific regions.  He is also currently co-authoring a book on Korea, discussing the many issues with ensuring peace on the Peninsula.  Lastly, Jerry is even working in the television industry.  He will host a 10-episode History Channel show called “Defending Japan”, which highlights the security threat surrounding Japan, as well as the importance of the US and Japan Alliance.  He will also serve as an Associate Producer for the series, which is scheduled to begin filming in August of 2020.

Jerry is married to Kimberly Martinez, and they have two children.  He comes from the small country town of Guymon, Oklahoma.  He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and has a Master’s Degree in Business from Webster University in St Louis.   His leadership is based on integrity, hard work, and respect for others.

Director, Institute of South Asian Studies
Professor C Raja Mohan is Director, Institute of South Asian Studies. Earlier, Professor Mohan was Professor of South Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Professor Mohan is one of India’s leading commentators on India’s foreign policy. He has been associated with a number of think tanks in New Delhi, including the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, the Centre for Policy Research and the Observer Research Foundation. He was also the founding director of Carnegie India, New Delhi – the sixth international centre of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, WashingtonDC. He was the Henry Alfred Kissinger Chair in International Affairs at the United States Library of Congress, Washington DC, from 2009 to 2010. He served on India’s National Security Advisory Board. He led the Indian Chapter of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs from 1999 to 2006.

He writes a regular column for the Indian Express and was earlier the Strategic Affairs Editor for the Hindu newspaper, Chennai. He is on the editorial boards of a number of Indian and international journals on world politics.

Professor Mohan has a Master’s degree in nuclear physics and a PhD in international relations. Among his recent books are Samudra Manthan: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Indo-Pacific (2013) and Modi’s World: Expanding India’s Sphere of Influence (2015).

Vice President, Business Development Unit
Entertainment & Consumer Business Lead
SoftBank, Japan
Sean Nichols is a dynamic force in the entertainment industry, leading the charge as the Head of Entertainment Properties for Softbank Corp. Currently, he holds the reins at Jellysmack, Cameo, and Firework Japan offices.

With over 20 years of unparalleled expertise, Sean kickstarted his career as one of the first members of the NBA Japan office before become a pioneer in digital marketing at Dentsu, and subsequently, his journey led to founding a successful boutique agency that spanned the Pacific, bridging Tokyo and LA.

His journey continued as he assumed the role of Managing Director for Tastemade Japan until its acquisition by Mitsui Trading, Inc. in 2021.

Sean’s remarkable journey also includes spearheading the launch of Amazon Prime Video in Japan as Head of Business Development, and his tenure as USA Director for Hakuhodo.

In addition to his corporate endeavors, Sean’s on-screen presence shines just as brightly. He made history by being the only non-Japanese actor with a regular starring role in the illustrious Ultraman franchise’s 55-year legacy, alongside a three-year stint on the nationally acclaimed kids program, “Eigo de Asobo.”  All this while trying his hand a Japanese comedy, Manzai, where he appeared on Nationally televised comedy shows and live performances.

Beyond that, Sean’s creative touch extends to producing the documentary “From the Shadows” and delivering the Japanese version of the global phenomenon “The Bachelor.”

A true visionary and multi-talented entertainer, Sean Nichols continuously blazes new trails and crafts compelling narratives in the world of entertainment.

Former Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea
H.E. Michael Reiterer is the former ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the European Union to the Republic of Korea (2017-2020) and the former ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, Bern (2007-2011). Currently, Mr. Reiterer is a Distinguished Professor in International Security and Diplomacy at the Institute for European Studies, Vrie Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Mr. Reiterer’s distinguished career includes:

• 2012-2016  Principal Advisor, Asia and Pacific Department, European External Action Service (EEAS), Brussels
• 2002-2006  Minister, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Japan
• 1998-2002  ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Counselor, Department for External Relations, European 
•  1997-1998  Minister Counselor, Permanent Representation of Austria to the European Union, Brussels; Counsellor at the European Economic and Social Committee
• 1992-1997  Deputy Director General, Department for European Integration and Trade Policy, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Vienna

Mr. Reiterer holds a Doctorate in law from the University of Innsbruck (1978), a Diploma in international relations from Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies, Bologna Center (1979), and a Diploma in international relations from the Graduate Institute for International Studies, Geneva (1981).

Former German Ambassador to North Korea and Guatemala
H.E. Schäfer, a distinguished diplomat with a career spanning nearly four decades, served as the German Ambassador to both North Korea and Guatemala. Born in Oldenburg, Germany in 1952, his educational background reflects a global perspective, having attended high school in both Kiel, Germany and Kansas City, USA. He further pursued studies in History and Romance Studies at the University of Kiel and the University of Lyon, culminating in a PhD in German History from his alma mater in 1985.

H.E. Schäfer’s diplomatic career began in 1981 with the German Foreign Office. His postings encompassed various locations around the world, including Beijing, San Salvador, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Caracas, and Seoul. Notably, his expertise in arms control was honed during his service in Bonn and Berlin. He held the prestigious position of German Ambassador twice, serving in North Korea from 2007-2010 and 2013-2018, and in Guatemala from 2010-2013. Since his retirement in 2018, H.E. Schäfer resides in Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria, and continues to share his insights on North Korea through his 2021 book, “From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un: How the Hardliners Prevailed. On the Political History of North Korea (2007-2020)”.

Vice Admiral (Ret.) U.S. Navy
Vice Admiral Robert Thomas retired from the U.S. Navy in January 2017 after 38 years of Naval Service. He then accepted an appointment as a Senior Research Fellow with the University of California’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC). He is also a full time faculty member at UC San Diego’s Graduate School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS).

Vice Admiral Thomas’ last operational tour was in command of the U.S. 7th Fleet from July 2013 to September 2015. His final assignment before retiring was Director Navy Staff in the Pentagon.

Vice Admiral Thomas graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He holds a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the National War College in Washington, DC.

General (Ret.) U.S. Army
General John H. Tilelli, Jr. retired on January 31, 2000 from the United States Army after over 30 years of service.  General Tilelli’s last active-duty assignment was Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command, Republic of Korea/United States Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea. During his time in Korea, he commanded the largest standing joint and coalition force in the world comprising over 650,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. In addition, he led the theater’s campaign strategy and revitalized Korea’s automated command and control and equipment modernization.

General Tilelli’s military career includes serving as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and the Army’s Deputy Chief of Operations during which he led the Army’s vision of the Army of the 21st Century and implemented reforms in acquisition and procurement.  He was also the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.  He trained, deployed, and fought with the Division in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Upon his retirement from the United States Army, General Tilelli was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the USO Worldwide Operations.  He had the responsibility for the operation of over 122 USO operations around the world in support of our servicemen and women and their families. General Tilelli led and served on other senior panels related to defense issues. Currently, General Tilelli is employed with Cypress International Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – Emeritus. He served as the former Vice Chairman for Korea Defense Veterans Association and is currently serving on the KDVA Council of Advisors.

Head of the Department of Political Science
University of Oregon
Dr. Tuong Vu is professor and Department Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Oregon. He is the founder and director of the US-Vietnam Research Center also based at the University of Oregon. He has held visiting appointments at Princeton University and National University of Singapore and taught at the Naval Postgraduate School.

A native of Vietnam, his research focuses on the politics of nationalism, communism, revolution, and state-building in East and Southeast Asia. Vu has published extensively and is the author or editor of five books, including The Republic of Vietnam, 1955-1975: Vietnamese Perspectives on Nation-Building (Cornell, 2020), Vietnam’s Communist Revolution: The Power and Limits of Ideology (Cambridge, 2017), Paths to Development in Asia: South Korea, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia (Cambridge, 2010), Dynamics of the Cold War in Asia: Ideology, Identity, and Culture (Palgrave, 2009), and Southeast Asia in Political Science: Theory, Region, and Qualitative Analysis (Stanford, 2008).

Group Captain (Ret.)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born in Singapore in 1972, Group Captain (Ret.) Adam Williams joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) where he graduated from the Australian Defense Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree and served in a multitude of flying, staff, and command roles over the next 31 years.

With a pedigree in military aviation and further education including two Master’s degrees, his experience has included command at all levels, the inception of new formations in the Australian Air Force, combat operations, and humanitarian missions. Career highlights include service in the Australian High Commissions to Singapore and Brunei, graduating from the prestigious Indian National Defense College, and 3 years commanding the United Nations Command Rear in Japan during the tumultuous period from 2018-2021.

Adam lives on the gold coast of Australia and is married to Laura. He is an avid skydiver who also enjoys bushwalking and time with his family.

Senior Fellow for Maritime Security
Captain (Ret.), United States Navy
Captain (Retired) Joe Carrigan is the Senior Fellow for Maritime Security with the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy (CAPS).  He retired from the United States Navy in June 2023 after 30 years of service. 

Over the course of his career, Captain Carrigan served on six ships and commanded two of them: the guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54). He has deployed extensively across the Indo-Asia Pacific region and around the world to include the Indian Ocean, Philippine Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, Sea of Japan/East Sea, Yellow Sea/West Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf, Horn of Africa, North Atlantic, and Caribbean Sea.      

Ashore, he served as an instructor in the NROTC Unit at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; in the Strategy and Policy Division (N51) of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; in the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) of U.S. Central Command; in the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group; as a legislative fellow in the office of a United States Senator; as a speechwriter for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) of the Joint Staff; in the Theater Security Cooperation Directorate (N7) of the U.S. Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan; and as the second Deputy Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea in Seoul and Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea (ROK). 

For the last four years of his active duty service, Captain Carrigan served as the Senior Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy).

Captain Carrigan graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and was commissioned an officer in the United States Navy through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program. He earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College where he graduated with highest distinction. He also serves as a Senior National Security Fellow and adjunct faculty member at Michigan State University’s James Madison College Indo-Pacific Collaboratory.

Senior Fellow for Food Security
Dr. Eva Monterrosa is a nutrition professional and scientist with twenty years of research and professional experience in public and commercial sectors. In her current role as Program Lead, Consumer Demand at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, she designs market-based models to ensure nutrition security for lower income consumers. Her expertise is in the domains of formative research and consumer insights, intervention design, planning, and implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Dr. Monterrosa has advised UN agencies, Foundations, and Governments on behavior change, social marketing, and food choice. She holds a PhD from Cornell University in International Nutrition, with emphasis in Nutritional Epidemiology, Nutritional Anthropology, and Development Sociology. She received a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science and a master’s degree in Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Alberta. She is Founding member of the Society for Implementation Science in Nutrition and co-Founder of the Food Culture Alliance. Eva currently lives in Switzerland.

Senior Fellow for Human Security
Jihyun Park is a British citizen of North Korean origin. After escaping North Korea twice, she settled in the United Kingdom in 2008.

Ms. Park engages in a broad range of activities. She is an author, public speaker, and TEDx talk presenter. Her book, The Hard Road Out, details her experiences.

Ms. Park actively engages in public discourse. She delivered testimony at the UK House of Commons’ first hearing on “Autocracies and UK Foreign Policy.” (Korean: 영국 하원 청문회 “독재국가들과 영국의 외교정책 검토”)

In 2018, Ms. Park received the NatWest Chairman’s Award at the Asian Woman Achievement Awards. She was also recognized on The Alternative Rich List 2018. In 2020, she was honored with the Amnesty Brave Award, and in 2021, she was named a Time Hero.

Ms. Park is the first North Korean escapee to stand for local council as a candidate for the Conservative Party. Additionally, she has the distinction of being the first such escapee to speak at the UK Conservative Party Conference. Notably, she has met with King Charles III on two occasions in 2023.

Ms. Park has an extensive media presence. She has made appearances on numerous broadcast outlets, including BBC, Sky News, GB News, ITV, DW, CNN, and stations in Norway, Spain, and France. Her written contributions include interviews with various newspapers, such as a feature on “Lunch with the FT.”

Assistant Researcher,
Global Future Leaders Initiative
Brenden Garvin is a current master’s student of International Relations at the University of San Diego. His interests include developing technologies, semiconductors and international trade relations. Prior to his graduate work, he earned an Associate’s Degree in Japanese from Palomar College and a Bachelor’s Degree in East Asian History from California State University San Marcos. He currently works for the Dutch semiconductor company ASML.

Director of Research & Analysis
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Air Force
Lt Col (Ret.) Chris Heber is a 20 year veteran of the Air Force. As an F-16 pilot, he had multiple operational tours in the F-16. He also had several tours in both developmental and operational test and evaluation, as well as program management. His final assignment was as the Director of Operational Missile Test at Eglin Air Force Base.

As an Olmsted Scholar, Chris attended the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Language Institute, as well as Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute. Chris then served at the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission as the Director of Plans and Exercises, overseeing the implementation of United Nations Command forces into theater plans. As Inspector General he oversaw operational readiness for the 8th Fighter Wing; as Director of Training for 7th Air Force he oversaw training for all US Air Force personnel stationed in Korea, and was Exercise Director for all major 7th Air Force exercises. Chris has a B.A. in History from the University of Texas at Arlington, a M.S. in International Relations from Troy University, and a M.A. in Political Science from Yonsei University. He currently works in the commercial aviation sector.

Director of Plans
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Air ForceLieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Cheree Kochen is a 23-year veteran of the US Air Force, retiring from Air Force Special Operations in 2021. She was commissioned in 1998 through the US Air Force Academy and earned her degree in Russian/Slavic area studies with a Russian language minor. In 2004, she completed her masters in International Relations from Troy University.

Lt Col Kochen began her operational career at Hurlburt Field, FL, flying AC-130U Gunships at the 4th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) in August 2000. During her 6 years at the 4th SOS, Lt Col Kochen deployed 8 times to fly missions supporting both Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Lt Col Kochen was then selected to become the first female Combat Aviation Advisor/Instructor assigned to the 6th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL. The 6th SOS specialized in Foreign Internal Defense (FID) operations, and Lt Col Kochen worked to assess, train, advise and assist foreign aviation forces in the tactical use of their own aircraft. During her time in the 6th SOS, she flew C-130E/H, Russian AN-26 Antinov, Spanish CASA-235, and Cessna 208 aircraft while working with partner nation pilots.

In 2009, Lt Col Kochen attended an abbreviated Korean language course at the Defense Language Institute before moving to Seoul to become the lead air planner in the J5 office at Special Operations Command – Korea (SOCKOR). While at SOCKOR, she worked closely with her Korean counterparts at ROK Special Warfare Command revising the Combined Unconventional Warfare Task Force (CUWTF) supporting plans for UNC/CFC OPLAN 5027 and for the ROK JCS – UNC/CFC CONPLAN 5029. In 2012, Lt Col Kochen extended her tour in the SOCKOR J5 office and co-authored the new CUWTF UNC/CFC OPLAN 5015 that replaced the two previous versions.

After four years at SOCKOR HQ in Seoul, Lt Col Kochen decided to remain in Korea and moved to Osan Air Base. She took over as Director of the Combined Joint Special Operations Liaison Element (CJSOLE) and served as SOCKOR’s representative on the 7th Air Force Commander’s staff. She also oversaw the coordination for all daily special operations aviation missions in Korea.

After serving in South Korea for seven years, Lt Col Kochen returned to Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field to take over as the Director of Irregular Warfare Plans and Programs. She oversaw the planning and coordination of C-146, C-145 and Combat Aviation Advisor missions that specialized in Foreign Internal Defense (FID) operations. She was responsible for planning and managing Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) high priority Combat Aviation Advisory (CAA) security cooperation engagements throughout the world.

Program Manager,
Global Future Leaders Initiative
Anna is a Master of International Affairs student at UCSD’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, specializing in China and International Economics. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in political science concentrating in global politics. Her research focuses on US-China relations and international trade agreements. She is currently working on a capstone project studying the intersection of economic policy and international security as it relates to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.