General (Ret.) Vincent K. Brooks
Chairman
Korea Defense Veterans Association
Vincent K. Brooks. General (Retired) Vincent “Vince” Brooks is a career Army officer who served in the U.S. Army for over 42 years, from his entry into West Point in 1976 until his retirement from active duty in 2019 as a four-star general. Brooks spent his final seventeen years as a general officer and in nearly all of those years in command of large, complex military organizations in challenging situations. Most recently, from 2016 until his retirement, he was the commander of all Korean and United States forces in the Republic of Korea. In the two positions prior to Korea he served as the commander of all United States Army forces throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific region from 2013 to 2016 during the strategic rebalancing to Asia, and as the commander of all United States Army forces in the Middle East and Central Asia from 2011 to 2013 during the reduction of forces in Iraq and the buildup of forces in Afghanistan as well as the phenomenon known as “the Arab Spring. During his tenure in the Army, he gained uncommon experience in leading through complex, ambiguous situations with significant national security interests and risks at stake. In retirement, he applies these experiences in the numerous activities in which he is involved. He is a combat veteran. General Brooks serves as a Director for three public boards (Diamondback Energy Inc., Jacobs Inc., and Verisk Analytics Inc.); and two non-profit boards (Vice Chairman of the Gary Sinise Foundation, and Chairman and President of the Korea Defense Veterans Association). General Brooks is also a Consultant Principal with WestExec Advisors, a visiting Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Texas with both the Clements Center for National Security and the Strauss Center for International Security and Law. Brooks holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies and holds an honorary Doctor of Laws from the New England School of Law and an honorary Doctor of Humanities from New England Law | Boston. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Thomas J. Byrne
President & CEO
The Korea Society
Thomas J. Byrne joined The Korea Society as its President in August of 2015. He comes to the Society from Moody’s Investor Services, where he was Senior Vice President, Regional Manager, Spokesperson, and Director of Analysis for the Sovereign Risk Group in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions working in Moody’s Singapore office. Before moving to Moody’s in 1996, he was the Senior Economist of the Asia Department at the Institute of International Finance in Washington DC. Tom has an MA degree in International Relations with an emphasis on economics from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a BS degree in Biology from State University of New York at Stony Brook. Before his graduate work, he served in South Korea for three years as a US Peace Corps volunteer. President Byrne teaches as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York City and at Georgetown University’s Graduate School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. As president, he has written opinion articles which were published in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg View, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, The National Interest, and Reuters Breakingviews.
Stuart Countess
President & CEO
Kia Georgia
Stuart Countess is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Kia Georgia’s manufacturing facility in West Point, GA. Countess is responsible for all operational facets of the four-model assembly plant that employs over 2,900 employees and produces a capacity of 340,000 vehicles annually. A graduate of the University of Alabama in Electrical Engineering, Countess began his 30-year manufacturing career with Hughes Aircraft Corporation before moving into automotive at the Mercedes Benz assembly plant in Vance, AL. In 2008, Countess was hired as the Sr. Manager for Kia Georgia’s General Assembly shop, where he was a key figure in developing and implementing The Kia Way and the Georgia Production System as core practices of the facility’s operational system. Since his hiring, Countess has held positions as the company’s Director of Quality, Vice President of Quality and Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Operating Officer before assuming his current role. Countess is very active in community, civic, and educational organizations promoting individual development and providing leadership through service on multiple boards and committees in various capacities. He currently sits on leadership boards for the Georgia Chamber, Lagrange College, Lagrange Academy, Georgia State Workforce Development Board, and The Carter Center, while chairing a key committee in Georgia’s Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance (EMIA). Countess is an avid golfer and loyal supporter of the Alabama Crimson Tide. He and his wife, Dana, reside in Lagrange, GA. They have (4) children and (4) grandchildren.
Steven Jahng
Director/Head of External Affairs/Social Value
SK Battery America, Inc.
Steven Jahng is Director/Head of External Affairs/Social Value for SK Battery America, Inc. Prior to joining SK Battery America, Mr. Jahng was Executive Director for JP Morgan in Seoul and Singapore. Prior to that, he was Director at HSBC Investment Bank in Seoul. Mr. Jahng graduated from Columbia University, School of Engineering and Applied Science with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering.
Athar Kahn
Director, International Specialty Sales
Delta Air Lines
Athar Khan was appointed to the role of Director, International Specialty Sales in October 2020. Athar and his team are responsible for managing Delta’s relationship with accounts specialized in Asia Pacific, Latin and EMEAI Consolidator business, within the United States. Athar and his team coordinate joint selling activities with our partners Aeromexico, Air France/KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, and China Eastern.Athar returns from Seoul, South Korea where he was positioned as Director, Asia Pacific, Sales. Athar and his team were responsible for managing Delta’s relationship with Global and Multi-National Accounts as well as world’s three largest Travel Management Companies in Asia Pacific Athar was seconded to Jet Airways as Vice President, Americas, for Jet Airways in 2018. Prior to that, Athar served as Director, NY Financial, responsible for the major investment banks and private equity accounts, as well as Director, New York Sales where he helped lead Delta’s drive to “Win in New York”.Additionally, Athar brings significant international experience from his roles in Doha with Qatar Airways as well as in LAC, EMEA and APAC during his 18 years with American Airlines, making him an ideal fit for his new position.Athar graduated from Marlboro College, Vermont with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology. Athar currently lives with his family in Atlanta, Georgia.
Yoonie Kim
Director of Korean Investment
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Yoonie Kim serves as a director of Korean investment for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, focusing on attracting international investment into Georgia. Having joined the department in 2006, Yoonie has located 130 foreign direct investment projects into Georgia, creating 22,600 international jobs and $11,700,000,000 in capital investment. These companies include Hyundai Motor Company, SK on, Hanwha Q Cells, LG Hausys, Hyundai Powertech, Doosan Infracore, SK C&C, Samsung LED, Hyundai Heavy Industry, Johnson Controls, Fortune Group as well as numerous small and medium sized international companies. Yoonie also serves many other capacities within the department, including leading the Governor’s & Commissioners’ delegations to Korea; organizing international events; hosting international delegations in Georgia; leading numerous international investment promotion seminars and conferences; attending trade shows and missions; assisting with Georgia’s efforts to help Kia Motors establish their US presence and recruiting their multiple supplier companies; guiding the department with cultural protocols in the Asia region; and developing marketing and communications materials to promote Georgia and its products internationally. Prior to her joining GDEcD, Yoonie served as a quality evaluator for Korean language searches at Google, Inc. Yoonie also worked as assistant manager for International Marketing at ePhoenix Networks Co. and completed internships with the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Yoonie earned her Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering and a Master of Arts in International Relations from HanYang University in South Korea. She is fluent in English, Korean and Japanese. Yoonie is on the Board of Directors at the Korea Southeast U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.
Jae Kim
President
The Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce
Jae Kim is President of the The Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce, with responsibilities to lead the organization. Also, as Board Director, he has responsibilities to organize board meetings to drive promotion and development of the organization’s mission and objectives, including management of membership, events, and activities. He is Senior Manager at Aprio, LLP with 12 years of experience. He has expertise in bridging international relationships, with a focus on U.S.-Korea cross-border investments and economic ties. Prior to joining Aprio, LLP he had worked for Fortune 500 companies such as Deloitte, Roche, and Johnson & Johnson. He graduated with a Masters Science in Accounting from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, and a B.S. in Business Administration – Accounting from Butler University, Lacy School of Business. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he lived and grew-up in Zimbabwe and South Africa for over 10 years as an Expat family as part of Daewoo Corporation.
Major General Lee KyungKoo
Defense Attaché
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
Major General Lee Kyung-koo is the Defense Attaché for Embassy of the Republic of Korea. As a Defense attaché, he is in charge of the overall affairs of the ROK office of Defense in the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. Major General Lee Kyung-koo was born in 1968 in South Korea and graduated from the Korea Military Academy in 1990. After graduation, he served as a commanding officer in various positions and regions, including platoon leader of the mechanized unit, company commander in the demilitarized zone (DMZ), battalion commander of the mechanized unit, and brigade commanding officer. He served as an administrative officer of the Army Chief of Staff, a deputy commanding officer of the JSA battalion Panmunjom, Action officer in charge of Russia policy division in MND and chief of policy planning division at the ROK Army headquarters when he was a Lieutenant Colonel. After being promoted to brigadier general in the fall of 2016, he served as a presidential security service, principal military advisor, 7th Army corps chief of staff, and deputy director general for international policy for 3 years from 2019 to 2021 in MND. During his tenure as deputy director general of international policy, he participated in the 10th and 11th Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations as vice representative of the government negotiations. In 2021, Major General Lee, Kyung-koo directly led the operation of Oasis to transport the Navy Cheonghae Unit with COVID-19 in July and the Miracle Operation to transport 390 Afghans who contributed to Korea from Afghanistan. For his education, he completed the International Officers’ Advanced Course in Ft. Benning, Georgia, 1994 when he was a captain. He obtained a master’s degree in international relations from Norwich University, Vermont, 2007. Major General Lee was with the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan in 2001-2002, and served as Lieutenant Colonel of Civil Military Cooperation at the Dongmyeong Unit in Lebanon in 2009. In addition, he was in charge of the UN PKO ministerial meeting held in Seoul in 2021. He was promoted to Major General in December 2021. He has a wife Jung Hee, daughter Minjoo, and son Kwan-woo.
Senator Jon Ossoff
U.S. Senator for Georgia
Born and raised in Atlanta, Senator Jon Ossoff is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. Since his election, Sen. Ossoff has delivered for communities in every part of Georgia, successfully building bipartisan relationships to achieve results even in a divided Congress and polarized national political environment. A strong partner for Georgia’s business community, Sen. Ossoff is working to grow the state’s logistics, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, agricultural, and energy sectors. In his first months in office, Sen. Ossoff intervened in an international trade dispute that threatened one of the most significant economic projects in Georgia history, brokering a deal between two Korean industrial titans to save the $2.6 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Commerce, Georgia. Sen. Ossoff is a top leader in Washington working to strengthen U.S.-Korean relations, leading an economic delegation to South Korea last fall. He helped to secure Hyundai’s historic new automotive facility and helped create hundreds of new jobs in Northwest Georgia in domestic solar manufacturing. Sen. Ossoff helped confirm the United States’ Ambassador to South Korea and has held dozens of bilateral meetings with top Korean officials to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties. Before his election to the Senate, Sen. Ossoff led a company that exposed ISIS war crimes, atrocities committed by peacekeeping troops, human trafficking, fraud, theft, corruption, and murder as the CEO of a 30-year-old company that investigated official corruption, organized crime, and war crimes for international news organizations. Mentored by civil rights legend Congressman John Lewis, Sen. Ossoff previously worked as a national security aide in Congress and as an investigative journalist. The Senator and his team are here for you however we can help you.
Yoonjoo Park
Consul General
Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta
Consul General Yoonjoo Park arrived in Atlanta in June 2021 to begin his current post. The Republic of Korea Consulate in Atlanta opened in 1976 and covers the states Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Previously, Consul General Park held various positions such as Counsellor of the Korean Embassy in Iran, Director of North America Division Ⅱ, Deputy Consul-General of the Korean Consulate General in Boston, Counsellor of the Korean Embassy in Australia, Deputy Director-General for North American Affairs, and Director-General for Human Resources. He earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Seoul National University in 1993 and a master’s degree in International Trade and Investment from George Washington University in 2002. He is married and has one son and one daughter.
William I. Sauser, Jr., PhD
Professor Emeritus of Management
Harbert College of Business at Auburn University
William I. Sauser, Jr., PhD is professor emeritus of management in the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University. Based in Auburn, Alabama, he is an award-winning consultant and trainer with over four decades of experience teaching practical yet research-based courses and workshops in leadership and human relations in the workplace. Dr. Sauser earned his BS in management and MS and PhD in industrial/organizational psychology at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MA in business ethics from the University of Wales Trinity-Saint David. He is licensed to practice psychology in Alabama and holds two specialty diplomas from the American Board of Professional Psychology. Dr. Sauser’s interests include organizational development and change, strategic planning, human relations in the workplace, business ethics, and continuing professional education. He is a frequent consultant to public, private, and voluntary-sector organizations and has been awarded the 2003 Frederick W. Taylor Key by the Society for Advancement of Management, the 2012 Harbert College of Business Excellence in Outreach Award, and the 2013 External Consulting Award and 2014 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award by Auburn University. He also received Auburn Author Awards in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016 for books he co-edited in the fields of human resources management and business ethics. Dr. Sauser is a former president of the Alabama Psychological Association, the Society for Advancement of Management, the Auburn University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, and the Lee County (Alabama) Sunrise Rotary Club. He is also a past chair of the Alabama Board of Examiners in Psychology and the Auburn University Senate. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Peace Community Development Corporation and the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau. Over the past 40 years Dr. Sauser has offered more than a thousand programs and courses in leadership and human relations in the workplace to a variety of manufacturing, commercial, governmental, educational, and voluntary organizations in Alabama and Georgia. He takes pride in tailoring program content and delivery methods to the needs of the employees of each organization with which he interacts.
General (Ret.) Curtis M. Scaparotti
Senior Counselor
The Cohen Group
In 2019, General Curtis “Mike” Scaparrotti completed a distinguished 41-year career in the US Army as the Commander, US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO. As the NATO Commander, General Scaparrotti worked to preserve the security and stability of the Alliance and strengthen it in the face of traditional and new-age adversaries. He collaborated with the leadership of all 29 NATO member nations, as well as the various NATO partner countries around the world. Prior to General Scaparrotti’s leadership position at NATO and US European Command, General Scaparrotti served as the Commander of US Forces Korea / United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command in Seoul, South Korea from 2013 to 2016. He has also served as the Director of the Joint Staff, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, the Deputy Commander of US Forces – Afghanistan, the Commanding General of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. Additionally, over the years, General Scaparrotti served in key leadership positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic level of the United States military. These positions have included Director of Operations at US Central Command, and the 69th Commandant of Cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point. He has commanded forces during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Support Hope (Zaire/Rwanda), Joint Endeavor (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and Assured Response (Liberia). General Scaparrotti’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Army Meritorious Service Medal. Additionally, he has earned the Combat Action Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab. General Scaparrotti graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1978. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, and the US Army War College. Additionally, General Scaparrotti holds a Master’s degree in Administrative Education from the University of South Carolina. In addition to his work with The Cohen Group, General Scaparrotti is a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council, a member of the Advisory Board of the Patriot Foundation, a Senior Fellow at the National Defense University, a member of the Advisory Board of the Spirit of America, and member of the Board of Directors of the Korea Defense Veterans Association.
Ambassador (Ret.) Charles Shapiro
Moderator
Charles Shapiro was the former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela (2002 – 2004), and also served as president of the Institute of the Americas and president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta. In his 34-year career at the US Department of State, Shapiro was posted in Denmark, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, and Venezuela. In Washington he served in a number of capacities, including as Acting Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere and Coordinator for Cuban Affairs. In 2001, President Bush awarded him the Presidential Meritorious Service Award.
Scott Walker
Director, Office of Korean Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Scott Walker is currently the Director of the Office of Korean and Mongolian Affairs and he has served in that capacity since 2021. Previously, Mr. Walker served as the Spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing; as the Public Affairs Officer at the Consulate General in Toronto; as the Press Officer at the Consulate General in Shanghai; and as a consular officer at U.S. Embassy Seoul. In Washington, he has been a Pearson Fellow on Capitol Hill; the Republic of Korea unit chief in the Office of Korean Affairs; and the embedded Public Diplomacy officer, also at the Korea Desk. He has a BA from UC Santa Cruz and an MA from San Francisco State.
Pat Wilson
Commissioner
Georgia Department of Economic Development
Pat Wilson was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in November 2016. As Commissioner, he leads the state agency responsible for creating jobs and investment opportunities in Georgia through business recruitment and expansion, small business growth, international trade and tourism, as well as the arts, film and music industries. Pat is responsible for leading the GDEcD team in planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Under Governor Brian P. Kemp and Commissioner Wilson’s leadership, Georgia has been named the No. 1 state in the nation in which to do business for the eighth consecutive year in a row by both Site Selection and Area Development. GDEcD was also rated as the nation’s best state-level economic development organization by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2017. Mr. Wilson previously served as Chief Operating Officer of GDEcD from January 2011 until his appointment as Commissioner by former Governor Nathan Deal. As COO, he managed the daily operations of the agency, directed long-term strategy, managed the agency’s legislative priorities and served as the department’s liaison with the Georgia Congressional delegation and federal government partners. In addition, Pat served as Executive Director of the Georgia Allies. Mr. Wilson joined GDEcD as Deputy Commissioner for Global Commerce in 2010. Prior to that, he served on the staff of Governor Sonny Perdue as the director of government affairs, promoting the Governor’s legislative agenda at the State Capitol and managing federal affairs for the state of Georgia. He previously served as director of federal affairs for the state, opening the Washington, D.C., office in 2005. There, he promoted the state’s agenda with the U.S. Congress and federal agencies as the Governor’s representative to the Georgia congressional delegation. Before joining state government, Mr. Wilson was director of governmental affairs for Greenberg Traurig, LLP, in Washington. He served under the late Senator Paul Coverdell and under then-Representative Nathan Deal. He is a Franklin Springs, Georgia, native, and holds an undergraduate degree in political science with a focus on international relations from the University of Georgia. He and his wife Melissa and their two children, Padgett and Carter, reside in Sandy Springs.
