Mike Kolton joined the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) in 2025. His teaching and research interests include China-Taiwan dynamics, whole-of-society resilience, emerging economic trends, and the defense industrial base of the United States and its partners. He has lived and worked in the Indo-Pacific region since 1999.
Prior to joining DKI APCSS, Kolton served as an officer in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after a career spanning operational, intelligence, diplomatic, and policy roles. He began his military career as an infantry officer, leading combat units in Afghanistan and Iraq. Later, he served as a China specialist for the military, known as a foreign area officer, with postings to Beijing and Taipei.
Most recently, Kolton served at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Intelligence Directorate (J2), where he led joint military and civilian teams to generate analysis and strengthen multilateral partnerships. As chief of analysis at the J2 Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Kolton directed the production of all-source analysis, operational assessments, and support to joint planning. Later, as chief of J2 intelligence engagement and security cooperation, he supervised multiple collaboration programs with U.S. partners. From 2018 to 2021, Kolton served as a defense liaison officer at the American Institute in Taiwan, managing unofficial U.S.-Taiwan defense activities on behalf of U.S. interests. He worked closely with Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense headquarters, Army, Military Police, and various special operations units. Kolton also spearheaded a whole-of-society self-defense initiative in collaboration with Taiwan’s National Security Council and its interagency enterprise. Taiwan’s Ministry of Interior awarded Kolton the National Fire Medal for his contributions to Taiwan’s disaster preparedness.
Kolton was a graduate fellow at the East-West Center in Hawaii and a Kathryn Davis Peace fellow at Middlebury College in Vermont. He earned the following degrees: a Master of Arts in global affairs from Yale University’s Jackson School; a Master of Arts in economics from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa; and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Kolton completed Chinese language studies at the Defense Language Institute in California, Middlebury College in Vermont, Capital Normal University in Beijing, and Tamsui University in Taiwan. He has been published in Cyber Defense Review, Military Review, Infantry Magazine, and Assembly Magazine.
