The Honorable Mark William Lippert has a distinguished career in the United States government that spanned approximately two decades and included series of senior-level positions across multiple agencies. From 2014-2017, he served as the United States ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea, based in Seoul. He previously held positions in the Department of Defense, including as chief of staff to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (2013-2014) and as assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (2012-2013), the top official in the Pentagon for all Asia issues. Lippert also worked in the White House as chief of staff to the National Security Council in 2009. Lippert served in the uniformed military. An intelligence officer in the United States Navy, he mobilized to active duty from 2009 to 2011 for service with Naval Special Warfare (SEALs) Development Group that included deployments to Afghanistan and other regions. From 2007 to 2008, he deployed as an intelligence officer with Seal Team One to Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Earlier in his career, Lippert served as a staff member in the United States Senate, where he worked on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for then-Senator Obama; the Senate Appropriations Committee State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee for Senator Leahy, and for other members of the Senate. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Basic Parachutist Badge. He is also the recipient of the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Public Service Award and the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a B.A. in political science and holds an M.A. in international policy studies from the same institution. He speaks Korean and also studied Mandarin Chinese at Beijing University. Lippert is married to Robyn E. Lippert who serves as a senior vice president at UnitedHealth Group and has two children, Sejun and Sahee. They live in Washington, D.C. with their basset hound, Grigsby.

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Korea and U.S.-China Competition

Please join us for an episode of The Capital Cable with Dr. Robert Atkinson, founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, recognized as the world’s top think tank for science and technology policy.

Event by Robert Atkinson , Victor Cha , Mark Lippert , and Sue Mi Terry — June 1, 2023

Technology Race in Asia: The Capital Cable #71

Please join us for the Capital Cable with Gregory Allen as we talk about AI, semiconductors and the technology race in Asia. 

Event by Gregory C. Allen , Victor Cha , Mark Lippert , and Sue Mi Terry — May 18, 2023

ROK President State Visit to Washington: The Capital Cable #69

Please join us for a special discussion about the upcoming state visit of South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to the U.S with Mr. Scott Snyder, Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Event by Scott Snyder , Victor Cha , Mark Lippert , and Sue Mi Terry — April 20, 2023

Korea-Japan Forced Labor Compensation Plan: Capital Cable #66

Please join us for a special discussion on the recently announced compensation plan by South Korea to resolve the wartime forced labor issue between Korea and Japan.

Event by Yuki Tatsumi , Victor Cha , Mark Lippert , and Sue Mi Terry — March 9, 2023

The Capital Cable #65: South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy

Please join us for a special discussion on South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy with Dr. Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies. He is also professor of politics at The Catholic University of America.

Event by Andrew Yeo , Victor Cha , Mark Lippert , and Sue Mi Terry — February 22, 2023

The Capital Cable #63: North Korea in 2023

Please join us for a special discussion on North Korea in 2023 with Mr. Sydney Seiler, the National Intelligence Officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council.

Event by Mark Lippert , Sydney Seiler , and Sue Mi Terry — January 26, 2023