Alumni Profiles
David An
MPIA '07
David An is an East Asian Affairs Officer in the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. In this role, David directly assists the Assistant Secretary of State on regional issues, sets and plans official bilateral and multilateral meetings, and plays a major part in approving/denying all U.S. arms sales in his area of responsibility, which includes China, Taiwan, Australia, Mongolia and Hong Kong. He approves roughly $50 million in routine arms sales to U.S. friends and allies each week.
Early in 2010, David coordinated a significant U.S. arms package for Taiwan and separately initiated the first U.S.-Taiwan Political Military Talks held in Washington, D.C. The Talks are an annual event that bring together senior officials from Taiwan’s military and government to meet with U.S. counterparts at State, the National Security Council, Pentagon, and DHS. In 2010, David received the State Department’s highest civilian award, the Superior Honor Award for his work with Taiwan.
David was also decorated by Taiwan’s current Minister of Defense, Kao Hua-chu, for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief after he helped coordinate U.S. relief efforts to assist Taiwan after Hurricane Morakot. His team worked with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Pacific Command to send naval vessels and helicopter sorties to Taiwan, providing heavy lift capabilities to save people buried under collapsed buildings. David was also part of the approval process during the Haiti earthquake, which allowed Taiwan’s C-130 cargo plane full of supplies to traverse the Pacific and deliver relief supplies to Haiti.
In 2004 while at IR/PS, David helped design a public health program and disseminate health informational brochures for the Tijuana garbage landfill community “Fausto Gonzales.”
David An is the 2012 recipient of the IR/PS Outstanding Alumni Award.
Early in 2010, David coordinated a significant U.S. arms package for Taiwan and separately initiated the first U.S.-Taiwan Political Military Talks held in Washington, D.C. The Talks are an annual event that bring together senior officials from Taiwan’s military and government to meet with U.S. counterparts at State, the National Security Council, Pentagon, and DHS. In 2010, David received the State Department’s highest civilian award, the Superior Honor Award for his work with Taiwan.
David was also decorated by Taiwan’s current Minister of Defense, Kao Hua-chu, for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief after he helped coordinate U.S. relief efforts to assist Taiwan after Hurricane Morakot. His team worked with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Pacific Command to send naval vessels and helicopter sorties to Taiwan, providing heavy lift capabilities to save people buried under collapsed buildings. David was also part of the approval process during the Haiti earthquake, which allowed Taiwan’s C-130 cargo plane full of supplies to traverse the Pacific and deliver relief supplies to Haiti.
In 2004 while at IR/PS, David helped design a public health program and disseminate health informational brochures for the Tijuana garbage landfill community “Fausto Gonzales.”
David An is the 2012 recipient of the IR/PS Outstanding Alumni Award.
