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Biography

Lieutenant (LT) Jonghyuk Park was born and raised in South Korea for eleven years before his family immigrated to Tampa, Florida. He attended Virginia Tech, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with minors in Nuclear Materials, Green Engineering, and Leadership. He was a proud member of Virginia Tech's NROTC unit and a member of the Corps of Cadets.

Upon commissioning as an Ensign in the Surface Warfare community in 2019, LT Park received orders to attend the Surface Warfare Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC) in Norfolk, Virginia. Over six months, he studied ship handling, leadership, and various aspects of surface naval operations. Following BDOC, LT Park reported to the amphibious warfare ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41) in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he served as the Assistant First Lieutenant, Aviation Coordination Officer, and Helicopter Control Officer during his first Division Officer tour from 2019 to 2022. He successfully led the ship through a six-month basic phase and multiple aviation certifications.

After completing his tour, LT Park attended the Advanced Division Officer Course (ADOC), where he honed advanced warfighting and ship-handling skills. He then reported to the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) in San Diego, California, for his second Division Officer tour from 2022 to 2024. During this tour, he served as the Assistant Training Officer, Engineering Training Officer, and Auxiliaries Division Officer. He participated in Tripoli’s maiden deployment in 2022, supporting exercises such as Valiant Shield 22, Noble Fusion, Operation Kamandag, and Steel Knight 22. Additionally, LT Park was selected for an individual augmentee assignment in South Korea, where he contributed to the annual joint military Ulchi Freedom Shield Large-Scale Exercises with the Republic of Korea’s naval, army, marine, and air forces.

LT Park now serves as a Surface Warfare Officer at the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit (NROTCU) at the ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ.