Alexander Semyon Vindman is a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel who served as the Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council (NSC). He was reassigned from this position on February 7, 2020. Vindman now serves as the director for the think tank, the Institute for Informed American Leadership (IIAL).
June 6, 1975: Birth of Alexander Vindman
Alexander Semyon Vindman was born on June 6, 1975.
December 1979: Vindman Family Immigrates to the United States
Following the death of their mother, three-year-old Alexander, his twin brother Yevgeny, and their older brother, Leonid, were brought to New York by their father in December 1979.
1991: Start of Vindman's Doctoral Dissertation Research Period
Vindman's doctoral dissertation at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies focused on U.S. Foreign Policy toward Ukraine from 1991 to 2004.
1993: Vindman Graduates High School
Vindman graduated from Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in 1993.
January 1999: Vindman Commissioned as Second Lieutenant
Vindman received a second lieutenant's commission in the Army's Infantry Branch in January 1999 after completing ROTC in college.
1999: Vindman Commissioned as Infantry Officer
Alexander Vindman was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1999.
1999: Vindman Completes Infantry Officer Basic Course
Vindman completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course (IOBC) at Fort Benning in 1999.
September 2004: Vindman Serves in Iraq War
Vindman served in Iraq from September 2004 to September 2005.
2004: End of Vindman's Doctoral Dissertation Research Period
Vindman's doctoral dissertation at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies focused on U.S. Foreign Policy toward Ukraine from 1991 to 2004.
September 2005: Vindman Completes Service in Iraq
Vindman served in Iraq from September 2004 to September 2005.
2008: Vindman Promoted to Major
Vindman was promoted to the rank of major in 2008.
2008: Vindman Begins Work as Foreign Area Officer
Beginning in 2008, Vindman became a Foreign Area Officer specializing in Eurasia.
2008: Vindman Becomes Foreign Area Officer
Vindman became a foreign area officer specializing in Eurasia in 2008.
2011: Daughter's Birth
Vindman and Rachel Vindman's daughter was born in 2011.
September 2015: Vindman Joins Joint Staff at the Pentagon
Vindman served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon from September 2015 to July 2018.
September 2015: Vindman Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Vindman was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in September 2015.
July 2018: Vindman Joins National Security Council
In July 2018, Vindman accepted an assignment with the National Security Council.
July 2018: Vindman Leaves Joint Staff at the Pentagon
Vindman served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon from September 2015 to July 2018.
2018: Vindman Becomes Director for European Affairs at the NSC
In 2018, Vindman assumed the position of Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council.
July 25, 2019: Trump-Zelensky Phone Call
Vindman was one of the White House officials present during a July 25, 2019, phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which became central to Trump's impeachment inquiry.
October 2019: Vindman Testifies in Trump Impeachment Inquiry
In October 2019, Vindman gained national attention when he testified before the United States Congress regarding the Trump–Ukraine scandal.
October 28, 2019: Vindman's Opening Statement Released
On October 28, 2019, Vindman's opening statement to a closed session of several House Committees was released ahead of his testimony in the impeachment inquiry.
October 29, 2019: Vindman Subpoenaed to Testify in Impeachment Inquiry
Vindman was subpoenaed to testify before Congressional investigators on October 29, 2019, as part of the U.S. House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump.
November 19, 2019: Vindman Testifies Before House of Representatives
Vindman testified before the US House of Representatives on November 19, 2019, stating he found Trump's comments during the July 25 call with Zelensky "improper."
February 7, 2020: Vindman Leaves National Security Council
On February 7, 2020, Alexander Vindman was reassigned from his position as Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council (NSC). He was later escorted out of the White House.
February 10, 2020: Chuck Schumer Requests Investigation
On February 10, 2020, Senator Chuck Schumer sent a letter requesting federal Inspectors General to investigate potential retaliation against individuals who revealed presidential misconduct, particularly concerning the Vindman brothers.
February 11, 2020: Robert C. O'Brien Denies Retaliation
During a panel discussion on February 11, 2020, National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien claimed that the Vindman brothers' transfer back to the Army was part of a staff reduction and not retaliation for Alexander Vindman's testimony, contradicting President Trump's claims.
July 2, 2020: Senator Duckworth Blocks Military Promotions
On July 2, 2020, Senator Tammy Duckworth announced her intention to halt over a thousand military promotions unless Defense Secretary Mark Esper assured that Vindman's promotion wouldn't be blocked, highlighting the controversy surrounding Vindman's treatment.
July 2020: Vindman Retires from the Military
Vindman retired from the military in July 2020 after 21 years of service, citing vengeful behavior and bullying by the Trump administration.
August 1, 2020: Vindman Addresses Retirement
On August 1, 2020, Vindman wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post about his retirement, attributing it to alleged bullying and retaliation from the Trump administration.
November 2020: Vindman Joins Lawfare
Vindman joined the national security blog Lawfare in November 2020 after his retirement, marking his transition to a career focused on national security analysis and commentary.
2020: Vindman Resumes Studies
After leaving the National Security Council in 2020, Vindman resumed his academic studies.
2020: Appears in Political Advertisement
Vindman and his wife, Rachel, appeared in a political ad supporting Joe Biden's presidential campaign in 2020.
2020: Vindman Appointed Pritzker Military Fellow
Vindman was appointed the inaugural Pritzker Military Fellow at the Lawfare Institute in 2020.
March 16, 2021: Yevgeny Vindman Promoted to Colonel
Yevgeny Vindman, Alexander's twin brother, was promoted to Colonel in the Army on March 16, 2021.
2021: Vindman Publishes Memoir
Vindman's memoir, "Here, Right Matters," published in 2021, became a New York Times bestseller and detailed his experiences as a witness in Trump's first impeachment trial.
2021: Vindman Attends US Army War College
Vindman was chosen to attend the in-residence course at the United States Army War College during its 2020–2021 session.
2021: Appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Vindman made a cameo appearance on the eleventh season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2021.
2021: Vindman Joins Renew Democracy Initiative
In 2021, Vindman joined the executive board of the Renew Democracy Initiative, demonstrating his commitment to democratic values and principles.
January 2022: Vindman Joins VoteVets
In January 2022, Vindman became a senior advisor for VoteVets and director of the Vet Voice Foundation's think tank, further solidifying his role in national security and veterans' affairs.
February 2022: Vindman Files Lawsuit
In February 2022, Vindman filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, Dan Scavino, and Julia Hahn, alleging a smear campaign and efforts to damage his reputation following his testimony in the impeachment trial.
February 2022: Vindman Sues Trump Allies
In February 2022, Vindman unsuccessfully sued several Trump allies, alleging intimidation and retaliation for his Congressional testimony.
May 2022: Report Finds Retaliation Against Yevgeny Vindman
In May 2022, a Defense Department report revealed that the Trump administration unlawfully retaliated against Yevgeny Vindman for his involvement in the Trump-Ukraine scandal.
November 8, 2022: Vindman's Lawsuit Dismissed
On November 8, 2022, a federal judge dismissed Vindman's lawsuit alleging a smear campaign against him, stating that "political hackery" doesn't constitute a legal violation.
2022: Vindman Continues as Senior Fellow
As of 2022, Vindman continues to be a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.
2022: Co-Chairs Global Democracy Ambassador Scholarship
In 2022, Vindman and Daniel Lubetzky started the Global Democracy Ambassador Scholarship to support Ukrainian students pursuing education abroad.
March 2023: Vindman Brothers Launch Project Trident Support
In March 2023, the Vindman brothers launched Project Trident Support, aiming to establish a weapon maintenance and training facility in Ukraine to aid their defense efforts.
2023: Vindman Joins Harvard Kennedy School
Starting in 2023, Vindman took on roles as a Hauser Leader and Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership.
2024: Appearance on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Vindman appeared in the series finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2024.