Institute for Corean-American Studies





David S. Maxwell

U.S. Army Special Forces

Colonel David S. Maxwell hails from Madison, Connecticut. He is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a BA in Political Science and has Masters Degrees in Military Arts and Science and National Security Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Military Studies, and the National War College of the National Defense University. David received his commission from the Officer Candidate School in 1981. He is currently the Chief of the Strategic Initiatives Group, U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). David's most recent previous overseas assignment was commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines (JSOTF-P).

David has served in various command and staff assignments in the Infantry in Germany and Korea as well as in Special Forces at Ft. Lewis, Washington; Seoul, Korea; and Okinawa, Japan with total service in Asia in excess of 20 years. He served on the United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command / United States Forces Korea CJ3 staff where David was a planner for UNC/CFC OPLAN 5027-98 and ROK JCS – UNC/CFC CONPLAN 5029-99 and later served as the Director of Plans, Policy, and Strategy (J5) for Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR). From 2000 to 2002 he commanded 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Okinawa, Japan during which his operational detachments participated in numerous operations throughout Asia in Korea, Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, including deployment to Mindanao and Basilan Island for the initial execution of Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines. He has also served as Chief, Special Forces Branch, US Total Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia. David has been the Chief of Staff, Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) and G3 and Chief of Staff of USASOC. In addition, he is ICAS Fellow (a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies).

His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (1 OLC), the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Korean Defense Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon (numeral 5), the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Meritorious Unit Citation, the Philippine Legion of Honor, the Philippine Humanitarian Service Medal, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Korean, Philippines, and Australian Parachute Badges and the Special Forces and Ranger Tabs.

His wife, Kim and their daughter, Elizabeth reside at Fort Bragg.

Publications:

Master Theses:

"Special Forces Missions: A Return to the Roots for a Vision of the Future" US Army Command and General Staff College (1995)

"Beyond the Nuclear Crisis: A Long Term Strategy for the Korean Peninsula." National War College, National Defense University (2004) www.icasinc.org/2004/2004s/2004sdsm.html

Monographs:

"Support to United Nations Operations: Is There a Role for US Special Operations Forces", School of Advanced Military Studies (1995)

"Catastrophic Collapse of North Korea: Implications for the US Military", School of Advanced Military Studies (1996)

Articles:

"Is the Axis of Evil Synchronizing its Asymmetric Offensive?" PFO #02-25A,The Nautilus Institute Policy Form Online, December 20, 2002

"Operation Enduring Freedom -Philippines: What Would Sun Tzu Say?" May/June 2004 edition of Military Review

"A Strategy for the Korean Peninsula: Beyond the Nuclear Crisis" September/October 2004 edition of Military Review

"Terrorism and Ideology" Small Wars Journal, April 2005 .

"Timeless Theories of War in the 21st Century" Small Wars Journal, October 2005 .

"Considerations for Security Force Assistance Operations" Small Wars Journal, March 2008, .

"A Proposal for a Unifying Strategic Doctrine for National Security" Small Wars Journal, January 2009, .

"To Whom Should our Generals Listen: Or who should control the debate on the nature of future conflicts?" Small Wars Journal, March 2009, .

Book Contribution:

Chapter 9: "Psychological Operations in the Korean War: Anecdotes from the Past, Lessons for the Future", The Quest for a Unified Korea: Strategies for the Cultural and Interagency Process. Bruce Bechtol, Editor, Marine Corps University Foundation, 2007.






ICAS Web Site Links for David S Maxwell:

2010 Winter Symposium
Bulletin of December 12, 2004
2004 Spring Symposium





This page last updated 2/6/2010 jdb



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