David S. Chang

David S. Chang
Born	David Sung Yeul Chang (1980-01-04) January 4, 1980 Sacramento, California, U.S.
Alma mater	United States Military Academy at West Point University of Hawaii at Manoa, East-West Center, Covenant Theological Seminary, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Occupation	Entrepreneur and CEO, Wealth Manageer, Chief Editor, Past State GOP Chair, Hawaii Army National Guard Military Intelligence Officer
Political party	Republican
Website	Company Website Blog WebsiteMember Website

David S. Chang is a political figure, military combat veteran, entrepreneur and CEO, keynote speaker and editor of The Art of Thinking Smart,^[1] based in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is the chairman and CEO of Chang Holding Company Incorporated,^[2] a military intelligence officer in the Hawaii Army National Guard, and is the Past Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party^[3] and the Republican National Committee.^[4] Chang was elected chair in November 2011 for the 2011-2013 term^[5] and re-elected for another two-year term in May 2013.^[6]

Early life

Chang was born in Sacramento, California, and is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Computer Science. After West Point, Chang was selected as an East-West Graduate Degree Fellow and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he graduated with a Masters in Arts in Political Science, with a specialty in Asian Politics. He received a Leadership Certificate from the East-West Center and received his Masters in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary.

Chang is a second generation Korean-American.^[7]

Professional Life

Politics: HRP Chairman

On November 8, 2011, the Hawaii Republican Party announced it had elected Chang as its new chairman in a unanimous vote by the party’s state committee, which is made up of 51 elected House District chairpersons, 4 county chairs, executive committee members and Republican leaders in the Hawaii State House and Senate.^[8] Chang took the job when he was just 31, making him the youngest person ever to assume the post in the country at that time.^[7]

Chang was selected by Campaigns & Elections Magazine as Hawaii’s Top 10 Influencers of the 2012 Elections.^[9] He was also a superdelegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention.

In March 2013, Chang traveled to Seoul, Korea for an appearance with former American President George W. Bush.^[7]

Military

Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, as a member of the Bicentennial Class of 2002, Chang was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army as an Armor Officer. After finishing graduate school, he attended the Armor Officer Basic Course and was assigned to the 3d Regiment, 4th Cavalry Squadron, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, as a Ground Scout Platoon Leader, Assistant Intelligence Officer (S2), and Assistant Operations Officer (S3).

He then branch detailed to Military Intelligence and attended the Military Intelligence Tactician Course. He served as the Battalion Intelligence Officer (S2) for 3d Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, and the Deputy Brigade Intelligence Officer (S2) for the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 and served 15 months in Northern Iraq. Chang is a veteran of the Global War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He joined the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2009 and has served in the Joint Forces Headquarters and 103d Troop Command as an Intelligence Officer. He was selected as the Company Commander for Military Intelligence Company (MICO) B Company, 29th Brigade Support Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the Brigade Intelligence Officer (S2) for the 29th Brigade Combat Team. He currently serves as the Vice Chief of Staff of Intelligence (J2) for the Hawaii Army National Guard.

Business

Chang is the chairman and CEO of Hawaii-based investment firm Chang Holding Company,^[7] which currently comprises WealthBridge Inc., Home Care Solutions and Care for Life, WealthBridge Real Estate and Development LLC, GreenTech Pacific LLC, and Pacific West Imports and Export. He founded Chang Holding Company in 2010 and is based out of Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2015 David was selected by Investments News 40 Under 40 financial professionals in the financial industry.^[10] WealthBridge Inc., was selected as a FIVE-STAR Wealth Manager for the State of Hawaii in 2015, 2014,^[11] 2013,^[12] 2012^[13] and 2011. WealthBridge Inc. was selected by The National Association of Board Certified Advisory Practices (NABCAP) as a Premier Advisor for 2014, 2013 and 2012.

He was selected as a member of The Top 40 Under 40 Military Class of 2013.^[14] In 2011, Pacific Edge Magazine selected Chang as Young Professional of the Year.^[15] In 2010, he was selected as the Business Leader of the Year^[16] from the Pacific Business News 2010 class of Forty Under 40 in Hawaii.^[17] In 2011, he was a finalist for The Business Leadership Hawaii American Savings Bank Business Leader of the Year.^[18]

Chang currently has a blog called The Art of Thinking SMART^[19] and The Art of SMART Money,^[20] and a weekly column in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s weekly MidWeek.^[21]

Personal life

David received his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and received a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Babson College. David also earned a Certificate of Leadership from the East-West Center and was selected as an East-West Graduate Degree Fellow.^[22] He is a guest lecturer at Chaminade University and other educational institutions.

Chang is a member of the Financial Planning Association, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and is the past Chair and member of the steering committee for the Young Professionals program of The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. Chang is also involved with local church ministries and teaches at an 8,000 member church.

References