Luke Schumacher, Transitioning U.S. Army Officer / Aspiring PhD Candidate

Luke Schumacher is an active-duty U.S. Army intelligence officer with six years of experience leading inter-service, civil-military, and multi-national teams in the Indo-Pacific region.

Currently transitioning into the Army Reserve, Luke most recently served as the senior intelligence officer for a 4,500-soldier infantry brigade during an evaluation at the National Training Center. Previously, he was the senior intelligence officer for an infantry battalion throughout a four-month deployment to Southeast Asia and during a month-long exercise with the Indian Army. Reports he produced in this position are driving current defense department investments in Micronesia and Army force design changes.

Luke began his career in South Korea, first in a helicopter battalion and later as the executive officer of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, where he supervised the Korean armistice and negotiated with North Koreans. Luke later deployed to Afghanistan with the 75th Ranger Regiment, where he targeted violent extremist organizations.

Luke earned his B.S. with honors from West Point, during which time he studied Arabic in Jordan and played Division-I football. Afterwards, Luke attended the University of Cambridge on a Rotary scholarship, receiving a master’s with distinction in intellectual history. His academic work has been published by the Johns Hopkins University Press and his commentary can be found in War on the Rocks. He aspires earn a PhD, teach international relations, and provide political risk consultation. Luke lives in Tacoma, Washington with his tiny tiger, Simba, and fiancée, Macaela Seward, a commander in the Army’s 1st Special Forces Group.