Lt. Col. Alexander S. Park joined the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in July 2023, following his assignment as a Strategic Planner for the Army National Guard (ARNG) Strategic Plans and Policy Division at the National Guard Bureau. Lt. Col. Park is a Title 10 Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Army Strategist (FA59) Officer of ARNG.
His military career began in May 2001 with the Republic of Korea Army. Lt. Col. Park completed his conscription service from May 2001 to July 2003, during which he served as an Operations noncommissioned officer of the United Nations Command Security Battalion – Join Security Area at Camp Bonifas, South Korea.
In 2005, Lt. Col. Park joined the ARNG through the Simultaneous Membership Program at Pennsylvania State University. He earned his commission as a Finance Corps (36A) officer in 2007. Lt. Col. Park has served at every echelon in financial management, holding roles such as Budget Officer for the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Resource Management and Oversight Division, Senior Budget Officer at the ARNG Resource Management Comptroller Division, Deputy Disbursing Officer of the 28th Financial Management Company, and Detachment Commander of 928th Financial Management Detachment. He has also taken on various operational assignments as a Plan Officer and Chief of Overseas Deployment Training for the Eighth United State Army (8A) in Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea.
Lt. Col. Park’s military awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters); Army Achievement Medal (with two oak leaf clusters); Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with “M” Device); Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Lt. Col. Park has also been awarded the Parachutist Badge.
Lt. Col. Park graduated from the Basic Strategic Art Program at Army War College. His education includes the Defense Comptrollership Program (DCP) at Syracuse University, where he earned two Master’s degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Public Administration (MPA). Lt. Col. Park holds a B.S. in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from the Pennsylvania State University as well as a B.A. in English Language and Literature from Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty (CDFM-A), holding Department of Defense Financial Management Certification Level 2.
