Washington, DC | July 30 – The Asia Group (TAG) is announcing a significant expansion of its industry-leading Indo-Pacific Defense & National Security Practice, notably for Australia, the AUKUS initiative, and maritime and high-technology capabilities.
TAG is delighted to welcome Adm. (Ret.) John Richardson, Abraham Denmark, and Kathryn Paik as senior advisors. Today, TAG offers its clients an unrivaled capability, bringing decades of in-house and in-country experience on aerospace, defense, and national security issues across every country in the Indo-Pacific to leverage the expanding interconnectivity among U.S. allies and partners, such as AUKUS as well as the U.S.-Australia-Japan trilateral.
“Our world-class talent in defense and national security empowers our clients to navigate and excel in the ever-evolving Indo-Pacific landscape,” said TAG President Rexon Ryu. “Today, our unmatched insights and deep networks ensure that we deliver innovative and impactful solutions in this critical region.”
“AUKUS is already transforming the way Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States cooperate on defense acquisition projects. Companies seeking collaborative solutions need support in navigating this new defense ecosystem”, said TAG Partner and Australia Chair The Honorable Arthur Sinodinos AO.
Adm. (Ret.) John Richardson, the 31st Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), is a world-renowned expert on defense, national security, and geopolitical dynamics. Adm. Richardson retired from the United States Navy in 2019 after 37 years of service. More recently, he has served on the Board of Directors for The Boeing Company, Constellation Energy, BWX Technologies, and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Abraham M. Denmark is a leading national security strategist and policymaker with a deep understanding of the Indo-Pacific region. He previously served as Senior Advisor to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, where he led the U.S. Department of Defense’s efforts to develop and implement the historic AUKUS partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom. Denmark brings extensive Asia experience including as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia at the Department of Defense and Director of the Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars.
Kathryn Paik is a seasoned expert on the geopolitical trends and security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. A retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, Kathryn most recently served as the Director of Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia on the National Security Council from 2021 to 2023, where she spearheaded the first U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit and the inaugural U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy. Kathryn previously served as Marine Attaché to Indonesia. She currently serves as a Senior Fellow with the Australia Chair at Center for Strategic and International Studies.
TAG’s Defense & National Security Practice offers clients cutting-edge analysis of region-wide developments, insights into market opportunities and regulatory challenges, and actionable solutions to enable business success. TAG’s services leverage regional offices in New Delhi, Tokyo, Hanoi, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Taipei, and extensive presence across the Indo-Pacific region, offering unparalleled value for defense primes, emerging and advanced technology companies, and the small-to-medium enterprises in-between. TAG’s Defense & National Security Practice is led by TAG President Rexon Ryu, Managing Principal Col. (Ret.) Trey Meeks, and Principal Greg Chaffin.
TAG’s Australia Practice provides leading market entry and access strategies, crisis resolution services, and enterprise risk management solutions. Between Sydney, Australia, and Washington, DC, the Australia Practice coordinates closely with TAG’s regional offices to support inbound, outbound, and transnational investment strategies related to Australia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. TAG’s Australia Practice is led by former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos and TAG Managing Director Jacqueline Borsboom, who previously served as Australia’s chief AUKUS strategist in the U.S.
The Asia Group is the premier partner to the world’s leading companies seeking to excel across the Indo-Pacific region. With a multidisciplinary team of dynamic professionals across the region, The Asia Group enables companies to unlock value and mitigate risk at the intersection of public policy and corporate strategy.