From helping advance a first-of-its-kind Army data center initiative to expanding non-kinetic technologies for warfighters, Young Bang leads teams delivering mission-focused capabilities for the Defense Department.
As president of Two Six Technologies, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Bang is a finalist for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards in the Private & Public Company DOD Executive of the Year category. The event takes place live June 2.
In this spotlight, he discusses optimizing delivery, scaling growth, focus areas going forward, and his experience running with the Olympic Torch in 2018.
What key achievements did you have in 2025/2026?
I was instrumental in Carlyle’s data center deal with the Army, focused on partnering with the Army to bring in private capital to accelerate capability development and technology modernization. Through the Army’s Enhanced Use Lease program, the initiative established a new model for industry partnership by conditionally selecting commercial partners to build and operate hyperscale data centers on Army installations.
We were able to help bring private capital into infrastructure supporting both the DOD and the Army specifically, which had not been done before at this scale. We’re also working toward creating an AI Center of Excellence for the Army and DOD within secure enclaves to support the secure adoption and implementation of AI.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
As the president of Two Six Technologies, my primary focus areas going forward are optimizing delivery and scaling growth. This ties directly into ensuring we deliver exceptional outcomes for clients, specifically in support of mission success. I’m focused on scaling growth by delivering more of Two Six’s products and capabilities, especially non-kinetic capabilities, to warfighters and DOD partners across the non-kinetic spectrum.
I’m particularly focused on helping customers rapidly field operational technologies to address emerging threats and evolving mission requirements. By combining advanced targeting technologies, data-driven capabilities, AI-enabled systems and deep operational expertise, we can accelerate the deployment of mission-ready solutions from months down to days.
This approach gives customers the ability to respond much faster during global crises rather than relying solely on traditional procurement timelines. Ultimately, the goal is to help the DOD deliver innovation at the pace of operational demand while ensuring warfighters have the capabilities they need to succeed in an increasingly complex security environment.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Step outside your comfort zone and learn from your mistakes. If you make mistakes, take the opportunity to learn from them and don’t repeat them. Take chances, fail quickly and continue learning and improving through those experiences.
What is something about you that most people do not know?
I ran with the Olympic Torch during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea. I’d like to say it was because I was a world-class athlete, but it actually came through a Korean-American partnership with Samsung. I was born in Korea, immigrated to the U.S. at a young age, and later served in the Army back in Korea, so the experience felt like a meaningful homecoming.
