Hanwha taps former White House security adviser as first US strategy chief

Alex Wong, global chief strategy officer of Hanwha Aerospace (Hanwha Aerospace)

Hanwha Aerospace, a leading South Korean defense company, said Tuesday it has named a former White House security adviser as its first head of global strategies, highlighting its expansion drive in the US and Europe.

Alex Wong, a former principal deputy US national security adviser with experience coordinating policy across defense, international relations and intelligence, assumed the newly created position of Global Chief Strategy Officer of Hanwha Aerospace’s Seoul headquarters earlier this month.

Wong will be based in Washington, home to Hanwha Global Defense, the US subsidiary overseeing Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems.

Prior to the White House adviser, Wong held senior roles at the US State Department, including Deputy Special Representative for North Korea and Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, where he played a key role in shaping US strategy on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the broader Indo-Pacific region.

According to Hanwha, Wong will lead initiatives to strengthen partnerships, advance defense capabilities and drive re-industrialization in key markets, with a focus on the US and Europe.

Hanwha Group Vice Chair Kim Dong-kwan stated, “Alex Wong’s deep expertise in international security and alliance building will bolster Hanwha’s partnerships across the United States, Europe and beyond, fostering deeper cooperation and delivering meaningful capabilities.”

“Hanwha remains committed to shaping the future of defense, from advanced technologies and modern shipyards to robust industrial capacity, and Alex will be instrumental in realizing that vision.”

Hanwha Aerospace has been steadily expanding its presence in the growing US defense market, advancing development of the K9A2 self-propelled howitzer with an automatic turret and upgraded multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicles for the US Army.

The company has launched a feasibility study into building a US production facility for 155-millimeter artillery propellant charges. The study examines producing the entire ammunition value chain in the US — from raw materials to finished 155 mm charges — including propellants that use high-risk explosives such as nitroglycerin, instead of exporting Korean-made intermediates.

Hanwha is also cementing its position as a key partner for Northern Europe, having secured deals to supply K9s to Poland, Finland, Norway and Estonia.

In particular, the company is strengthening its defense partnership with Poland, where it set up its first European base in 2023.

In April, Hanwha signed a 402.6 billion won contract with state-owned Huta Stalowa Wola to supply chassis components for Poland’s KRAB self-propelled howitzer, shifting from complete-system exports to parts-and-systems cooperation. The company also agreed to set up a joint venture with WB Group, Poland’s largest private defense firm, to establish a local production base in Poland.