
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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U.S.-South Korea Trade Deal | The Capital Cable #117
Event — July 16, 2025
Iran-North Korea Cooperation | The Capital Cable #116
Event — July 1, 2025
Looking Forward: The Future of United States-Japan-Korea Trilateral Relations
Event — June 18, 2025
Korea-Japan Relations: What to Expect? | The Capital Cable #115
Event — June 16, 2025
2025 South Korean Presidential Election: What's Next? | The Capital Cable #114
Event — June 5, 2025
South Korean Presidential Election | The Capital Cable #113
Event — May 22, 2025
The Trade War and Geopolitical Competition with China | The Capital Cable #112
Event — May 8, 2025
What is North Korea Learning from the Ukraine War? | The Capital Cable #111
Event — April 25, 2025
After Impeachment: South Korean Presidential Election | The Capital Cable #110
Event — April 11, 2025
Next Steps for South Korea | The Capital Cable #109
Event — March 27, 2025