Mr. Alvaro Smith
Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia
Alvaro R. Smith is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia. In this role, he serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of War on all things China, Taiwan, and Mongolia and is the single hub for policy and strategy development, oversight, authorities review, and national-level interagency integration to align the Department's efforts on China, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
Prior to this role, Mr. Smith served as the second U.S. Secretary to the US-ROK SOFA Joint Committee at U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Headquarters. He managed a variety of subcommittees that involved complex negotiations and analysis with the Government of Republic of Korea and U.S. Forces Korea. In addition, he supported the USFK’s SOFA Secretariat’s efforts relating to the United Nations Command (UNC) and U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) to advance U.S. interest in Northeast Asia. This included a UNC delegation visit to Japan in March of 2025 for discussions with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Forces Japan, and United Nations Command-Rear. Mr. Smith received the Korean Civilian Service Medal for his superior performance.
Mr. Smith also served at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). In that role, he supported the Command’s legislative affairs efforts by advising on legislative matters and supporting Congressional travel and inquiries. Mr. Smith received the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award for his service at USINDOPACOM.
Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Mr. Smith served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Josh Hawley. In this capacity, he supported the Senator on matters pertaining to foreign policy and defense as it relates to the Asia-Pacific. He also participated in multiple visits into the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Hawaii, and Guam.
Mr. Smith is also a U.S. Army Reserve Transportation Officer. After his commission in 2018, Mr. Smith began as an Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command. His most recent assignment was at the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) – PACIFIC out of Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. In that capacity, 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.
He has a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College, and two Bachelor of Arts from Georgia Southern University in Anthropology and Modern Language (Chinese). He has traveled widely across the Asia-Pacific, including China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Guam, and Hawaii.
In 2009, he reported to the Argonauts of VFA 147 as executive officer. He became the Argonauts’ commanding officer in December 2010 and deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in support of Operation NEW DAWN, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and Operation TOMODACHI. During this tour, the Argonauts were awarded the Arleigh Burke Pacific Fleet Trophy amongst all U.S. Navy Pacific units for gains in combat efficiency.
In 2012, Rear Admiral Newkirk reported to the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. as part of the inaugural class of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Management. Following graduation, he reported to the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he worked for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities. In June of 2015, he reported to Chief of Naval Operations as Deputy Director of the Strategic Actions Group.
In 2016 he reported to Carrier Air Wing TWO (CVW-2) embarked on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) making two deployments to the Western Pacific and transitioning CVW-2 to the Navy’s first Generation Air Wing with F-35C Lightning II, as well as the E-2D and CMV-22.
In 2020 he reported to U.S. Pacific Fleet in Honolulu, Hawaii as the executive assistant to the commander. He continued in this same role at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command from April 2021 to May 2022. In June 2022, he reported to the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. and served as Deputy Director of Operations for Operations Team TWO.
In April 2024, he took command of Task Force 70 and Carrier Strike Group 5, forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.
Rear Admiral Newkirk has accumulated over 4000 flight hours, 1000 arrested landings on 10 aircraft carriers and has served as a Strike Lead in four Air Wings. He is married to the former Nancy Estep of Medina. They have four children: Mia, Nina, Nicolas and Andrew.
Prior to this role, Mr. Smith served as the second U.S. Secretary to the US-ROK SOFA Joint Committee at U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Headquarters. He managed a variety of subcommittees that involved complex negotiations and analysis with the Government of Republic of Korea and U.S. Forces Korea. In addition, he supported the USFK’s SOFA Secretariat’s efforts relating to the United Nations Command (UNC) and U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) to advance U.S. interest in Northeast Asia. This included a UNC delegation visit to Japan in March of 2025 for discussions with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Forces Japan, and United Nations Command-Rear. Mr. Smith received the Korean Civilian Service Medal for his superior performance.
Mr. Smith also served at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). In that role, he supported the Command’s legislative affairs efforts by advising on legislative matters and supporting Congressional travel and inquiries. Mr. Smith received the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award for his service at USINDOPACOM.
Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Mr. Smith served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Josh Hawley. In this capacity, he supported the Senator on matters pertaining to foreign policy and defense as it relates to the Asia-Pacific. He also participated in multiple visits into the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Hawaii, and Guam.
Mr. Smith is also a U.S. Army Reserve Transportation Officer. After his commission in 2018, Mr. Smith began as an Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command. His most recent assignment was at the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) – PACIFIC out of Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. In that capacity, 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.
He has a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College, and two Bachelor of Arts from Georgia Southern University in Anthropology and Modern Language (Chinese). He has traveled widely across the Asia-Pacific, including China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Guam, and Hawaii.
In 2009, he reported to the Argonauts of VFA 147 as executive officer. He became the Argonauts’ commanding officer in December 2010 and deployed with Carrier Air Wing 14 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in support of Operation NEW DAWN, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and Operation TOMODACHI. During this tour, the Argonauts were awarded the Arleigh Burke Pacific Fleet Trophy amongst all U.S. Navy Pacific units for gains in combat efficiency.
In 2012, Rear Admiral Newkirk reported to the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. as part of the inaugural class of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Management. Following graduation, he reported to the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he worked for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities. In June of 2015, he reported to Chief of Naval Operations as Deputy Director of the Strategic Actions Group.
In 2016 he reported to Carrier Air Wing TWO (CVW-2) embarked on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) making two deployments to the Western Pacific and transitioning CVW-2 to the Navy’s first Generation Air Wing with F-35C Lightning II, as well as the E-2D and CMV-22.
In 2020 he reported to U.S. Pacific Fleet in Honolulu, Hawaii as the executive assistant to the commander. He continued in this same role at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command from April 2021 to May 2022. In June 2022, he reported to the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. and served as Deputy Director of Operations for Operations Team TWO.
In April 2024, he took command of Task Force 70 and Carrier Strike Group 5, forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.
Rear Admiral Newkirk has accumulated over 4000 flight hours, 1000 arrested landings on 10 aircraft carriers and has served as a Strike Lead in four Air Wings. He is married to the former Nancy Estep of Medina. They have four children: Mia, Nina, Nicolas and Andrew.