Delta One

The military alliance between South Korea and the U.S.—often described as a ‘relationship forged in blood’—dates back to 1953. Originally conceived as a bulwark against communist expansion in Asia, it has since evolved into a comprehensive global strategic partnership. It comprises joint defense programs, advanced weapons co-production, shared technology development and integrated logistics.

Beneath this progress runs a complex current of export controls, procurement laws and contrasting organizational cultures that require seamless alignment across borders. Delta One was founded in 2020 to deliver the expertise that makes this happen.

A U.S.-based consultancy, Delta One specializes in industrial cooperation and offset programs. It is committed to making the collaboration between U.S. and South Korean aerospace and defense organizations compliant and commercially viable.

“Our role is to make trans-Pacific collaboration more attainable,” says Hwa Yu, CEO. “We understand the cultural expectations, the business languages and the constraints on both sides, and we use that insight to create alignment where most see friction.”

Delta One’s credibility is earned from experience on both sides of the U.S.-ROK alliance. Yu is a bilingual legal and trade specialist with years of experience navigating policy frameworks and contract negotiations with U.S. and Korean government agencies and industry players. Senior advisor James Grzella brings more than five decades of high-level private sector experience in senior roles at Raytheon, ATK (now part of Northrop Grumman); as a consultant/ contractor for Aerospace & Defense companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries); and, as a U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer (FAO) and the Liaison Officer in the Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group in South Korea. Director Mirim Nam spent 20 years at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul as a Senior Economic Specialist and, based in Los Angeles, leads Delta One’s West Coast coverage.

Together, this team gives Delta One an edge that few advisory companies can claim—an insider’s understanding of the U.S. and South Korean defense business environments.

Delta One’s core work revolves around enabling the entry and growth of aerospace and defense companies in regulated U.S. and South Korean defense markets. The team advises on licensing, partnership structuring and compliance with U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) requirements.

It turns policy goals into partnerships that sustain long-term capabilities. With South Korea pushing to become the world’s fourth-largest defense exporter and the U.S. focused on reinforcing trusted supply chains, Delta One serves as a translator of intent.

Navigating Policy, Culture and Compliance

Cross-border defense collaboration depends as much on understanding policy as it does on managing people. Delta One operates at that intersection. Drawing on extensive experience in bilateral negotiations, export licensing and government relations, its consultants expertly guide clients through shifting policy environments.

Defense transactions between the U.S. and South Korea are governed by a network of treaties, memoranda and industrial participation programs. Even a minor oversight can delay approvals or derail progress. Delta One minimizes risk through proactive coordination with both governments’ oversight agencies and by maintaining current insight into policy updates that affect technology transfer or co-production.

Equally important is its attention to cultural context. Business practices in Seoul and Washington differ in terms of pace, hierarchy and language of communication. Delta One’s bilingual consultants interpret these subtleties for clients, guaranteeing negotiations and proposals move forward seamlessly. This cultural intelligence often determines whether or not a promising opportunity turns into a sustainable partnership.

Strengthening Bilateral Market Access

Delta One’s strength lies in its ability to turn bilateral potential into tangible market access. It supports both South Korean and U.S. defense companies in identifying qualified partners, establishing compliant relationships and navigating multi-layered approval systems.

Each engagement begins with a detailed understanding of the client’s strategic goals through SWOT analysis, whether entering a new market, securing an offset contract or supporting a foreign military sales program. It then helps them decide between working directly with a U.S. or South Korean defense company or pursuing opportunities as a subcontractor to a local defense contractor. Once the business model is finalized, clients are matched with a reliable partner to collaborate with.

“Once we’ve identified a potential company, I spend about 40 hours researching and then assess if it is the right fit for the client,” says Grzella. “We go above and beyond to match our clients with the absolute best.”

Precision and accountability are key pillars of Delta One’s advisory approach. Instead of providing broad market overviews, it develops targeted strategies aligned with both nations’ procurement priorities. The team’s insights into DAPA in South Korea and the U.S. Department of Defense acquisition process allow clients to anticipate challenges before they arise. By bridging procedural and cultural differences, it ensures that partnerships are grounded in operational clarity and mutual gain.

Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) face steep barriers when entering foreign defense markets. Delta One gives SMEs the same strategic and procedural support that larger firms enjoy. It structures teaming agreements, advises on export control documentation and ensures that all transactions comply with ITAR and DAPA requirements.

Delta One’s team simplifies regulatory complexity and builds confidence in leadership teams new to defense exports. By guiding clients through every phase, from initial opportunity assessment to long-term sustainment, it expands the circle of participants in the U.S.-Korea defense supply chain.

Supporting Strategic Growth for Allied Resilience

Evolving global defense supply chains are driving the U.S. and South Korea to strategically synchronize their production strengths for greater mutual advantage. South Korea’s growing export profile in systems like self-propelled howitzers, armored vehicles, navy vessels and fighter aircraft has reshaped the balance of capability in the Indo-Pacific. Delta One plays a key role in aligning that growth with the U.S.’s strategic priorities.

It assists clients in structuring programs that contribute to broader alliance resilience, whether through co-development, licensed production or joint maintenance initiatives. Each engagement is designed to meet commercial objectives while strengthening the interoperability and industrial depth of the alliance itself.

Building Credibility through Experience

Clients rely on Delta One not just for advisory support, but for judgment—when to pursue an opportunity, when to pause and how to maintain compliance throughout every stage of engagement. Its network across the U.S. and South Korean defense and aerospace industries provides a foundation for insights that extend beyond transactional advice.

Its consultants maintain ongoing relationships with key stakeholders, allowing clients to anticipate changes. This foresight has become especially valuable as export controls, security classifications and alliance priorities evolve.

By translating regulations into opportunity and cultural nuance into collaboration, the company continues to strengthen the alliance that inspired its creation. In an industry defined by barriers, Delta One’s ability to open pathways that reflect the shared goals of two enduring partners has earned it the recognition of Defense Business Development Service of the Year 2026.