LTC Don Y. Kim
LTC Don Y. Kim was born in Anaheim, California, and graduated as a Distinguished Honor Graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in May 2005. He was also the BG Gerald A. Counts Award recipient for earning the highest-grade point average in his major.
After graduating on the Commandant’s List from the Infantry Officer Basic Course and completing Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia in January 2006, LTC Kim was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he served as an Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Assistant Effects Officer, and Rifle Platoon Leader in 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. During his assignment, he deployed to Hawijah, Kirkuk Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2006 to October 2007.
In August 2008, LTC Kim reported to Fort Benning, Georgia where he served as an Infantry One Station Unit Training Company Commander in 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment.
After graduating on the Commandant’s List from the Maneuver Captains Career Course in February 2010, LTC Kim was assigned to Rose Barracks, Germany where he served as an Assistant Squadron Operations Officer, Rifle Troop Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop Commander, and Assistant Regimental Operations Officer in 2nd Cavalry Regiment. During his tour, he deployed to Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan Province and Maiwand, Kandahar Province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from June 2010 to May 2011.
In April 2013, LTC Kim reported to Yongsan, Korea where he served as an Operations Officer, Secretary of the General Staff Operations Officer, and Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding General-Operations in Eighth Army. In these capacities, LTC Kim participated in five theater-level, combined, joint exercises in Korea and Japan.
After graduating on the Commandant’s List from the Command and General Staff College and at the top of his seminar from the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in May 2017, LTC Kim was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado where he served as a Division Maneuver Planner in 4th Infantry Division, and Battalion Executive Officer and Brigade Operations Officer in 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. During his assignment, he deployed as the Chief of Plans of a Division Mission Command Element to Poznan, Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve from June 2017 to February 2018, and as the Executive Officer of a 1,721-person Combined Task Force to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from May to November 2018.
In June 2020, LTC Kim reported to Stuttgart, Germany where he served as a Joint Operations Officer and Crisis Programs Branch Chief in the Current Operations Division, and Executive Officer to the Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement within U.S. Africa Command. During his tour, he has led and supported numerous operational planning teams focused on hostage rescue, counter-weapons of mass destruction, non-combatant evacuation, embassy security, and large-scale combat operations.
LTC Kim was assigned to Operations Group in Fort Irwin, California in September 2023 where he served as the Leader Training Program Branch Chief until May 2024. He assumed command of 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment on 12 June 2024.
LTC Kim’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral eight, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal with one campaign star, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, and Meritorious Unit Citation. LTC Kim has earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Gold Class German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency.