Alvaro Smith
Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia
Alvaro R. Smith earned two undergraduate degrees from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College.
Smith served as a legislative assistant to Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, related to foreign policy and defense in the Asia-Pacific region. He served the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command as a civilian legislative advisor. Smith then served as the second U.S. Secretary to the US-Republic of Korea SOFA Joint Committee at U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Headquarters.
Smith was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia in June 2025.
Smith serves as a U.S. Army Reserve Transportation Officer. He served as a Sealift Coordination Officer at the US-ROK Combined Sealift Coordination Cell in Busan, South Korea, during Freedom Shield 2024 and Ulchi Freedom Shield 2024.
In the News…
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, Alvaro Smith, recently conducted the annual U.S.-Mongolia Bilateral Defense Forum with Major General Gankhuyag Davagdorj, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Mongolia.
The U.S. Department of War stated, “The two officials affirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral defense relations based on mutual interest and a common-sense approach to security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.“
The department continued, “They discussed regional security matters as well as concrete opportunities to further enhance security cooperation, including through exercises, training, security assistance, and defense equipment sales. They also discussed areas where additional defense expenditure by Mongolia could significantly improve the Mongolian Armed Forces’ capabilities and readiness.“
