Rexon Y. Ryu is President of The Asia Group, Board Chair of The Asia Group Foundation, and host of the Tea Leaves Podcast. He leads The Asia Group’s practices on Defense & National Security and South Korea.
Drawing on over two decades of experience working in global diplomacy, national policymaking, and executive leadership, Rexon offers companies in-depth strategic and political insight as well as a nuanced ability to translate geopolitical and economic trends, events, and relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific into results-oriented business development campaigns. Rexon works closely with clients to develop comprehensive market entry and expansion, advocacy, communications outreach, and government relations strategies.
Over his public service, Rexon served three presidents at the highest levels, working extensively with both Republicans and Democrats. He has worked on the major foreign policy and national security challenges facing the United States, notably in Asia and the Middle East, including to expand strategic alliances and relationships, project U.S. influence globally, employ U.S. power against adversaries, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and plan for future challenges and opportunities.
Prior to joining The Asia Group in 2015, Rexon served as Chief of Staff to Secretary of Defense, and former Republican Senator from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel. Rexon has also served on the White House National Security Council staff, as Deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as foreign policy advisor to then-Senator Hagel, and in several policy positions at the State Department and the U.S. Embassies in Cairo and Jerusalem.
Rexon also maintains the following external commitments: the Defense Policy Board for the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and the Board of Trustees for HALO USA. Rexon is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Rexon holds a Master in Public Policy from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of California, Berkeley. Rexon lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two daughters.