Gordon K.

Army - Active Duty

Stanford Graduate School of Business - MBA

Gordon K. is a first-generation Korean American, the son of immigrants, and a U.S. Army Green Beret. His journey began when his family immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1999 after his father, an entrepreneur, sacrificed everything for better opportunities. Growing up in working-class communities across Delaware, New Jersey, and Long Island, Gordon learned resilience, teamwork, and the value of community built through shared struggle.

Unable to afford college, he enlisted in the Army to serve and earn an education, eventually commissioning as an Infantry officer and later joining the U.S. Army Special Forces. He led missions across the Indo-Pacific and deployed to South Korea—a full-circle moment protecting the country his family once left behind.



After a decade of service, Gordon will attend Stanford Graduate School of Business to focus on entrepreneurship and national security innovation. Inspired by his father’s example, he hopes to launch a defense technology startup that equips operators with advanced, AI-driven tools—continuing his lifelong mission to serve through innovation and leadership.