News

2023 KDVA & KUSAF Honoree

Mr. Rick Bogusky

HONORS CATEGORY:

U.S. Veteran

Accomplishments or support for the ROK-U.S. Alliance:

Rick Bogusky had a 24-year US Army career as a Field Artillery Officer and Korea FAO, serving 6 tours in Korea at all echelons of command and staff, and with close integration with the frontline ROK Army units.  His active duty service in Korea culminated as the executive officer to the Deputy Commander, Combined Forces Command, followed by a War College Fellowship to the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis.  Assignments off the Korean peninsula were still closely linked to security and support for the ROK-US alliance, including service as Chief of the Korea Division at DIA from 1993-1996 during the first nuclear crisis with North Korea.  Even after retirement, Rick continued to support ROK-US alliance indirectly in his role as Senior Vice President of CENTRA technologies, a defense contractor company (2001-2019) and directly in his final assignment to Korea as DTRA LNO to USFK/CFC from 2013 to 2017.

Volunteer efforts:

Highly active support and participation in KDVA events, journals, and media engagements.  Highly active in his local community and Church; leads a men’s group and volunteers as a lector.  During his time in Korea he would volunteer regularly to support the on-base Church and off-base engagements with the Korean community, including supporting Korean nursing homes/hospice and teaching English to a community of Korean nuns.

Biography:

Rick Bogusky had a 24-year US Army career as a Field Artillery Officer and Korea FAO, serving 6 tours in Korea at all echelons of command and staff, and with close integration with the frontline ROK Army units.  His active duty service in Korea culminated as the executive officer to the Deputy Commander, Combined Forces Command, followed by a War College Fellowship to the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis.  Assignments off the Korean peninsula were still closely linked to security and support for the ROK-US alliance, including service as Chief of the Korea Division at DIA from 1993-1996 during the first nuclear crisis with North Korea.  Even after retirement, Rick continued to support ROK-US alliance indirectly in his role as Senior Vice President of CENTRA technologies, a defense contractor company, from 2001-2019, and directly in his assignment to Korea as DTRA LNO to USFK/CFC from 2013 to 2017.

Statement from the nominator:

Rick Bogusky is an exemplar of selfless service, passion for the ROK-US Alliance and veterans, and love of country and family, American and Korean.  I witnessed his dedicated and humble service my entire life but words cannot do justice to adequately describe his quiet professionalism, humility, honest character, and service to others.  Hopefully three anecdotes will help shine a light on the character of this man, my father, to represent how he carried himself and served the Alliance.  During a visit to visit my Grandparent’s home in ChunChon, South Korea, I observed a drunken Korean man attempting to cross a busy street.  He fell, stumbling and cursing, as cars passed around him.  No one stopped to help him, except my father, who ran over to stop traffic and carry him to safety.  In the late 1990s while walking outside on Yongsan Army Garrison we stopped to honor retreat.  We noticed a group of young Army soldiers a short distance away casually talking and ignoring the national anthems from loudspeakers.  My dad calmly and respectfully reminded them to honor the flag.  Finally, father willingly stepped down from his position as senior vice president of CENTRA technologies in 2013 to serve in Korea as DTRA LNO to USFK.  This move was intentional to allow my parents to care for my mother’s youngest sister, severely handicapped, until her passing in 2017.  The themes of integrity, service to others before self, and duty were the hallmarks of his service to the ROK-US alliance.