Lieutenant Colonel Adam Yang hails from Brooklyn, NY and enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1998. He served as a Radar Repairman for Marine Air Control Squadron 1, 3d Marine Air Wing in Yuma, Arizona. In July 2000, he attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island.
LtCol Yang graduated from the US Naval Academy in May 2005, joined The Basic School in January 2006, and then attended the Basic Communications Officer Course in June 2006.
From January 2007 to January 2009, LtCol Yang served as the Battalion Communications Officer for 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 8.1 & 8.2.
From January through May 2009, he then served as the G-6 Assistant Operations Officer for 1st Marine Logistics Group.
From June 2009 to June 2012, LtCol Yang served as the Operations Officer for 6th Communication Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve in Brooklyn, NY.
Next, from June 2012 – September 2014, LtCol Yang attended the Naval Post graduate School in Monterey, California.
From December 2014 to June 2017, LtCol Yang served as the III MEF Information Operations Officer and Special Technical Operations Chief for the G-3 Fires and Effects Coordination Center, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan.
In June 2017, LtCol Yang attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, VA and graduated in June 2018 with distinction.
From July 2018 – July 2021, the LtCol Yang participated as a Doctoral Fellow for the Commandant of the Marine Corps PhD Strategist Program at American University. During this period, he also acted as the Director for the General Robert H. Barrow Fellowship for Great Power Competition at Marine Corps University, and served as the lead editor for the graphic novel series, Destination Unknown, for Marine Corps University Press.
Next, from August 2021 – March 2024, LtCol Yang served as a Strategist for the Strategy Branch within the Plans, Policies & Operations Directorate of Headquarters Marine Corps. In this capacity, he aided the Joint Staff J-5 Strategy Development Division in writing the 2022 National Military Strategy. Throughout 2023, he supported the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy as the Research Director for its ongoing study of the Ukraine War.
LtCol Yang holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science from the US Naval Academy; graduate degrees from Georgetown University, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Marine Corps University; and a PhD in International Relations from the School of International Service at American University.
Lieutenant Colonel Adam Yang currently serves as the Second Recruit Training Battalion Commander since 29 March 2024.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.