About Heino Klinck - Founder and Principal of the Firm

Heino Klinck is the founder and principal of Klinck Global LLC. He is a global strategist, business executive, retired U.S. Army Colonel, former diplomat, and international policy expert. His extensive experience includes 2+ decades abroad; leading global strategy efforts in a Fortune 100 company; senior political-military roles in the Pentagon; analytical and operational responsibilities in the intelligence community; multiple diplomatic postings in Asia and Europe; and providing strategic counsel as an independent consultant and advisor.

Heino was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, 2019-21. He devised and implemented U.S. defense policy in his portfolio of 20+ countries and territories, advancing national security interests through defense strategy development, bilateral alliance management, security cooperation, contingency planning, and program oversight. He advised the Secretary of Defense, represented the Department of Defense to the National Security Council, and led sensitive negotiations with foreign allies and partners.

Heino was responsible for international strategy and business development in a Big Four aerospace and defense company in the private sector. He synchronized efforts to provide technology solutions to defense challenges U.S. allies and partners worldwide. He was at the forefront of the first-ever foreign acquisition of a new C4I capability valued at $1 billion.

Colonel Klinck’s military career culminated as the Director of Army International Affairs. He was the senior advisor on geopolitical, foreign affairs, and international security cooperation issues to the Army’s top leaders. Assigned to U.S. diplomatic missions in China for 7+ years, he was one of the longest-serving Military Attachés at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate-General in Hong Kong.

Heino holds both undergraduate and graduate’s degrees in International Relations from Boston University; an MBA in International Management from the University of London; Master of Science degrees from the University of Rome and the University of Milan. He was awarded a Fellowship by Stanford University’s Asia-Pacific Research Center. He also attended Beijing Capital Normal University. Heino has varying proficiency levels in Mandarin Chinese, German, Italian, Spanish, and French.