David W. Kim
Tampa,FL
Summary
Presently serving as an Operations Analyst Senior Advisor and Team Lead for the Counter Rogue Regimes Cross-Functional Team, supporting a program for the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in Florida. In this capacity, I leverage my expertise in regional, transregional, cultural, and linguistic areas to provide strategic guidance and support to program operations. In addition to the mentioned core responsibilities, my expertise extends to innovative social media analysis and target audience assessment, complemented by advanced proficiency in report production and management, which enables me to provide critical support to Special Operations Forces (SOF).
Moreover, I am a highly accomplished former Defense Liaison Officer (DLO) and Cultural Expert for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), with a proven track record of significantly enhancing the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship. By leveraging exceptional professionalism, language skills, and cultural understanding, I have established a reputation as the "Go-to-Person" within Base Korea, DIA, for high-level engagements, including General Officer meetings, complex bilateral operations, and intricate scientific and engineering analytical exchanges between senior U.S. and ROK analysts. Notably, I have extensive experience in interacting with and interviewing mid to high-level North Korean defectors.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Analyst Senior Advisor, Team Lead
General Dynamics
11.2023 - Current
- Spearheaded day-to-day operations, designed research plans, and managed a team of multiple language-enabled social media analysts and target audience analysts to produce daily and weekly studies of social media influence campaigns, with a focus on key entities such as North Korea, Iran, Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs), and China.
- Provided strategic advice and actionable recommendations to senior decision-makers across multiple Combatant Commands (COCOMs), focusing on the identification, analysis, and mitigation of malign influence operations and their far-reaching, transregional implications.
- Rendered expert guidance and counsel to the Public Affairs Office (PAO) on the development and implementation of effective tactics and strategies for public messaging, enhancing the dissemination of key information to diverse audiences.
- Employed OSINT in conjunction with geo-enabled publicly available information (PAI) to generate predictive and trend analysis of relevant entities, providing recommendations at senior-level briefings.
- Conducted in-depth evaluations of different information environments to identify key communicators, social networks, and target audience preferences, supporting operation planning and the execution of internet-based Military Information Support Operations (MISO).
- Researched, evaluated, and generated assessments based on multi-sourced information to enable the execution of MISO, responding to RFIs and providing critical insights to support operational planning.
- Utilized cultural expertise and extensive knowledge in report writing and analysis to produce North Korea and Republic of Korea (ROK)-related special reports and information papers, communicating qualitative and quantitative data and critical metrics.
- Ensured the team's quality of work by conducting reviews of reports, providing feedback, and ensuring that vital performance indicators set forth by USSOCOM were met.
Conducted target audience analysis to inform social media analysis cell efforts, researching demographics, language, location, preferences, interests, and other metrics within designated groups.
- Identified potential audiences and priority audiences, employing advanced customized tools to identify priority audience characteristics, including knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
- Identified key influencers and analyzed barriers and facilitators to operational initiatives, considering segmentation by similar characteristics that may influence success.
- Responded to RFIs by researching, synthesizing, evaluating, and providing analysis based on multi-sourced information, preparing reports of analysis and making recommendations to senior leaders.
HUMINT Collector / Cultural Advisor
CENTCOM, US Army Reserve
04.2022 - 04.2024
- Provided expert advice to DIA on North Korea and China's influence within the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR), and their possible impact on the U.S. policy.
- Conducted liaison with host nation agencies in foreign languages to facilitate cooperation and information sharing.
- Supported government clients' missions and objectives by providing linguistic and cultural expertise, particularly with regards to North Korea and China's influence.
- Created timely and informative intelligence products to support unit operations and inform decision-making processes.
- Oversaw the gathering, review, and dissemination of intelligence information from various sources, including human intelligence (HUMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and counter-intelligence.
- Participated in human intelligence operations to gather information and support operational objectives.
Analyzed and prepared intelligence reports to provide actionable insights and recommendations.
- Screened human intelligence sources and documents to assess credibility and relevance.
- Performed accurate and nuanced translations of written foreign material and captured enemy documents into English.
- Served as an interpreter or translator for intelligence matters and materials, providing support for operational activities.
- Reviewed and edited translations of foreign documents and material to ensure accuracy, completeness, and cultural relevance.
- Utilized expertise as a Korean linguist and cultural expert to inform intelligence analysis and operational planning.
Operations Analyst Advisor, Korea & INDOPACOM SME
General Dynamics
10.2021 - 11.2023
- Provided training and coaching to junior to senior-level social media analysts, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct research and effectively utilize social media analytic tools, thereby enhancing their analytical capabilities and overall performance.
- Conducted comprehensive monitoring and analysis of online media and news sources to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies, and provided actionable transregional insights to senior leaders.
- Utilized expertise in social/new media engagement, social and cultural understanding, linguistic skills, and geo-political knowledge to provide context and insights into online media and news sources, and informed predictive recommendations and operational opportunities.
- Developed and generated media synopsis reports and assessments of relevant social media discourse. Provided predictive recommendations and operational opportunities based on analysis of social media trends and patterns.
- Monitored and assessed industry and technology trends in traditional, digital, social, mobile media platforms, and applied industry best practice methods to assess relevant media products and online communications.
- Employed advanced analytical tools and processes to generate historical and predictive representations of relevant entities, including characteristics and patterns, and provided actionable insights to senior leaders.
- Responded to requests for information by researching, synthesizing, evaluating, and providing assessments based on multi-sourced information, prepared reports of analysis, and made recommendations to senior leaders.
HUMINT Collector / Cultural Advisor
3300 Strategic Intelligence Group, US Army Reserve
09.2020 - 04.2022
- Provided expert advice to the group on North Korea and China's influence within the INDOPACOM AOR, and their possible impact on the U.S. policy.
- Participated in human intelligence operations to gather critical information and support operational objectives.
Analyzed and prepared intelligence reports to provide actionable insights and recommendations to key stakeholders. - Screened human intelligence sources and documents to assess credibility and relevance, ensuring the integrity of intelligence gathering efforts.
- Performed complex translations of written foreign material and captured enemy documents into English, facilitating timely and informed decision-making.
- Served as an interpreter or translator for intelligence matters and materials, providing linguistic expertise and support for operational activities.
- Reviewed and edited translations of foreign documents and material to ensure accuracy, completeness, and cultural relevance, maintaining the highest quality standards.
- Conducted liaison in foreign languages with host nation agencies, fostering cooperation and facilitating information sharing to support operational objectives.
Veteran/Hero Program Lead
Walgreens Boots Alliance
11.2020 - 10.2021
- Was responsible for the professional growth and development of military veteran employees in North Carolina's Triangle area (Chapel Hill-Durham-Raleigh), providing guidance, coaching, and support to enhance their skills and knowledge.
- Modeled and shared customer service best practices with all military veteran team members, ensuring a distinctive and delightful customer experience through interpersonal habits and Walgreens service traits.
- Assisted and coached the military veteran team members on warehouse and vendor ordering processes, including order creation, review, and receipt, as well as vendor delivery coordination.
- Oversaw basic department pricing and trained the military veteran team members on daily price changes, ensuring proper signage was displayed at the store to support accurate pricing of products, and completed additional pricing tasks related to local regulations and regulatory compliance programs.
- Coached military veteran team members on bookkeeping activities, including cash reports, cash counts, ledgers, and bill payments, as necessary or requested.
- Ensured all military veteran team members complied with state and local laws regarding regulated products, such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
- Served as a liaison between management and the veteran team members, ensuring smooth communication when needed.
Defense Liaison Officer (DLO) / Cultural Expert
Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA
11.2014 - 01.2018
- Served as a liaison between the DIA and the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC) to facilitate intelligence sharing and cooperation.
- Served as a liaison between the DIA and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), ROK to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.
- Successfully coordinated and attended numerous bilateral exchanges between the U.S. and the ROK, including NGA, NGIC, UFAC (DIA), MSIC, NTS, CIA, Department of Energy, Department of State, etc.
- Successfully coordinated and supported ROK General Officer and High-Level policymakers' visits to multiple U.S. intelligence agencies and the Pentagon to foster cooperation and mutual understanding.
- Successfully coordinated and participated in the Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Center exercise hosted by Marine Corps Intelligence Activity and DIA.
- Provided research and analysis support to the DIA and U.S. Army to inform decision-makers.
- Analyzed foreign capabilities to inform senior U.S. leaders.
- Attended South Korean General Officers' family events to build relationships and foster goodwill.
- Supported both overt and covert missions to ensure successful execution and achievement of objectives.
- Helped Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) missions to facilitate cooperation and success.
- Escorted and interpreted for the Director for Defense Intelligence (Intelligence & Security) during his visit to ROK intelligence agencies and the Combined Forces Command.
- Interpreted and translated for general officer and senior key leader meetings to facilitate communication and understanding.
- Interpreted and translated for complex bilateral operations between the U.S. and the ROK to ensure successful execution.
- Interpreted and translated for highly complex scientific and engineering analytical exchanges between senior U.S. and ROK analysts.
- Analyzed sensitive foreign military and policy-related files to provide insight and context.
- Translated over 400 complex executive-level documents, providing critical insights into North Korea's intent and assisting U.S. policymakers' decision-making processes.
- Produced reports used in Presidential Daily Briefs and multiple Staffer Briefs to inform decision-making at the highest levels.
Strategic Debriefer / HUMINT Collector
US Army
04.2013 - 11.2017
- Provided specialized interrogation training to the South Korean Army Interrogation Unit within the Special Warfare Command of the Republic of Korea.
- Conducted in-depth interviews with key individuals possessing unique expertise and knowledge on specific subjects of interest.
- Fostered strategic partnerships with foreign military entities to enhance collaborative efforts and facilitate information sharing.
- Conducted comprehensive analyses of foreign military capabilities, vulnerabilities, and threats within designated Areas of Responsibility (AORs).
- Researched and analyzed open-source intelligence.
Analyzed gathered information to identify patterns, trends, and insights that could inform national security decision-making.
- Authored written reports, briefings, and other intelligence products that summarized findings and provided actionable recommendations for senior military leaders.
- Identified critical issues, knowledge gaps, and areas requiring further research or analysis to support informed decision-making.
- Transcribed and translated foreign military-related documents to facilitate effective communication and collaboration.
Academic Coordinator / Deputy, Foreign Lang. Dept.
Hankuk University Of Foreign Studies
08.2008 - 12.2012
- Conducted and led business negotiations with multiple South Korean government agencies and private companies, fostering collaborative relationships and advancing organizational interests.
- Ensured the maintenance of high translation quality standards through diligent quality control measures, guaranteeing accuracy and precision in all translated materials.
- Supervised and reviewed translations of textbooks and documents executed by school staff members, encompassing both English-to-Korean and Korean-to-English translations.
- Designed and implemented comprehensive staff training programs aimed at enhancing the skills and expertise of school personnel.
- Oversaw and advised the development of classroom materials and curricula, ensuring alignment with educational objectives and standards, thereby enhancing educational programs' overall effectiveness.
- Assessed and evaluated educational materials to ensure their relevance, effectiveness, and alignment with institutional goals.
- Analyzed the performance of teaching staff, identifying areas of strength and weakness and providing constructive feedback to inform professional development.
- Mentored new teachers and professors, providing guidance and support in the development of effective instructional methods and strategies, and facilitating their integration into the school community.
- Coordinated recruiting and hiring new employees, including screening and evaluating job applications, to identify top talent and ensure a strong fit with the organization's needs and culture.
Foreign Language Teacher / Language Manager
Gorim Elementary School
08.2004 - 08.2008
- Managed foreign language teachers and contributed to curriculum development initiatives by providing input on course materials, assessments, and pedagogical approaches for foreign language instruction.
- Created engaging and effective lesson plans that catered to the needs of students with varying learning styles and abilities.
- Taught language skills such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and provided feedback to students on their progress.
- Introduced students to the culture and customs associated with the target language, and promoted cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
- Assessed student progress, identified areas of improvement, and evaluated the effectiveness of instructional methods.
- Created a supportive and inclusive learning environment, managed classroom behavior, and ensured student safety and well-being.
- Kept students and parents informed about student progress, provided feedback, and responded to concerns or questions.
- Stayed up-to-date with developments in language teaching methodologies, technologies, and cultural trends to ensure instruction remained relevant and effective.
- Adapted instruction to meet the needs of students with varying learning styles, abilities, and language proficiency levels.
- Encouraged students to think critically and solve problems in the target language, and provided opportunities for students to apply language skills in real-life contexts.
- Created a supportive and encouraging learning environment that motivated students to learn and use the target language, and built student confidence in their language abilities.
- Incorporated technology and multimedia resources into instruction to enhance student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes.
- Identified and addressed individual learning needs, such as learning disabilities or language learning difficulties, and provided support and accommodations as needed.
- Continuously evaluated and improved instructional methods, materials, and assessments to ensure they remained effective and relevant.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Affairs - Asia Concentration
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA05-2020
Diploma - Advanced Linguist - Korean Studies
Defense Language Institute
Monterey, CA07-2014
Associate of Arts - General Studies
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, NC05-2005
Skills
- DLPT - Korean (Reading 4, Listening 4)
- ALTA - Korean (Reading 4, Listening 4, Speaking 4)
- Strategic Planning
- Project and Team Management
- Research (PAI and OSINT)
- Data Analysis
- Social Media Analysis
- Target Audience Analysis
- Quality Control/Assurance
- International Relations
- Business Negotiation Strategies
- Recruitment and Training
- Instructional Design
- Multicultural Education
Analytics Tools Competencies
- Scraawl
- Meltwater
- Open IO
- EchoSec
- Vannevar Labs
- Talkwalker
- Dataminr
- Pulsar
- Primer Analyze
- Babel Street
- Horizon
Timeline
Operations Analyst Senior Advisor, Team Lead
General Dynamics
11.2023 - Current
HUMINT Collector / Cultural Advisor
CENTCOM, US Army Reserve
04.2022 - 04.2024
Operations Analyst Advisor, Korea & INDOPACOM SME
General Dynamics
10.2021 - 11.2023
Veteran/Hero Program Lead
Walgreens Boots Alliance
11.2020 - 10.2021
HUMINT Collector / Cultural Advisor
3300 Strategic Intelligence Group, US Army Reserve
09.2020 - 04.2022
Defense Liaison Officer (DLO) / Cultural Expert
Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA
11.2014 - 01.2018
Strategic Debriefer / HUMINT Collector
US Army
04.2013 - 11.2017
Academic Coordinator / Deputy, Foreign Lang. Dept.
Hankuk University Of Foreign Studies
08.2008 - 12.2012
Foreign Language Teacher / Language Manager
Gorim Elementary School
08.2004 - 08.2008
Bachelor of Arts - International Affairs - Asia Concentration
James Madison University
Diploma - Advanced Linguist - Korean Studies
Defense Language Institute
Associate of Arts - General Studies
Fayetteville Technical Community College
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