| Full Name | Alexander Semyon Vindman |
| Born Name | Aleksandr Semyonovich Vindman |
| Date of Birth | June 6, 1975 |
| Place of Birth | Kyiv, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Profession | Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, Author, Political Candidate |
| Education | SUNY Binghamton (B.A.), Harvard University (M.A.) |
| Military Service | United States Army (1999–2020) |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| NSC Role | Director for European Affairs (2018–2020) |
| Wife | Rachel Vindman (née Cartmill) |
| Children | One daughter (born 2011) |
| Books | Here, Right Matters (2021), The Folly of Realism (2025) |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Current Status | 2026 U.S. Senate candidate (Florida) |
Who Is Alex Vindman?
Alexander Semyon Vindman, born Aleksandr Semyonovich Vindman on June 6, 1975, is a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel who served as the Director of European Affairs for the United States National Security Council until he was reassigned on February 7, 2020.
He rose to national prominence in late 2019 when he became one of the most consequential witnesses in modern American political history — a decorated combat veteran who chose duty over self-preservation and paid a steep professional price for it.
Alex Vindman is a 21-year U.S. Army combat veteran who served his country in the military and as a national security expert working for presidents of both parties. He and his family left the Soviet Union as refugees when he was three years old in search of freedom and opportunity in America.
Early Life and Immigration to America
Alexander Semyon Vindman and his identical twin brother Yevgeny were born in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union, to a Jewish family. After the death of their mother, the three-year-old twins and their older brother, Leonid, were brought to New York City in December 1979 by their father, Semyon (Simon). They grew up in the Brighton Beach neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Born in Kyiv to a Jewish family, Vindman came to the United States with his two brothers, his father, and his maternal grandmother following his mother’s death. The family settled in Little Odessa — the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York — a tight-knit community of Soviet Jewish immigrants that shaped Vindman’s deep appreciation for American democracy and freedom.
Education
Vindman attended Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in Brooklyn. He later enrolled at SUNY Binghamton, where he participated in the ROTC program in coordination with Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently earned a Master’s degree from Harvard University, specializing in Eurasian affairs and Russian foreign policy.
He is currently a doctoral student and senior fellow for the Foreign Policy Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Military Career
Early Service and Combat in Iraq
Vindman completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning in 1999. He was subsequently posted to South Korea, where he led an anti-armor platoon. He later served in Germany before deploying to the Iraq War from September 2004 to September 2005. In October 2004, he sustained an injury from a roadside bomb, for which he received the Purple Heart. He was promoted to major in 2008 and to lieutenant colonel in September 2015.
Foreign Area Officer and Russia Specialist
Beginning in 2008, Vindman became a Foreign Area Officer specializing in Eurasia. He served as the political-military affairs officer for Russia for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as an attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. While on the Joint Staff, he co-authored the National Military Strategy Russia Annex and was the principal author for the Global Campaign for Russia.
Awards and Decorations
During his Army career, Vindman earned the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Parachutist Badge, as well as four Army Commendation Medals, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, and two Legions of Merit.
Role at the National Security Council (2018–2020)
Vindman served as the Director for Eastern European, Caucasus, and Russian Affairs for the United States National Security Council from 2018 to 2020. In this role, he was the White House’s top Ukraine expert — a position that would place him at the center of one of the most dramatic moments in American political history.
The Trump–Ukraine Scandal and Impeachment Testimony
The July 25, 2019 Phone Call
In his NSC role, Vindman was one of a number of officials who listened to the controversial July 25, 2019 phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump allegedly asked a foreign government to investigate an American citizen — then-former Vice President Joe Biden — for personal political gain. Vindman was immediately alarmed by what he heard and reported his concerns through the proper chain of command.
Congressional Testimony
Vindman came to national attention in October 2019 when he testified before the United States Congress regarding the Trump–Ukraine scandal. He appeared before the House Intelligence Committee in full military dress uniform, delivering a composed and detailed account of what he had witnessed. His testimony provided evidence that resulted in a charge of abuse of power in the first impeachment of Donald Trump.
Fired and Escorted Out of the White House
On February 7, 2020, Vindman was fired and escorted out of the White House. At the same time, his twin brother, Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Vindman, was also escorted off the White House grounds. His attorney, David Pressman, stated that a campaign of “bullying, intimidation, and retaliation” by the Trump administration was the reason for his client’s retirement.
Retirement from the US Army
In July 2020, Vindman announced his retirement from the U.S. military. He cited the continued delay in his promotion to colonel, a highly irregular Army investigation compelled by the White House Chief of Staff, and the broader campaign of retaliation against him. The Department of Defense inspector general later found in May 2022 that the Trump administration had unlawfully retaliated against his twin brother Yevgeny for his role in the Trump–Ukraine scandal.
Books and Publications
Here, Right Matters (2021)
In 2021, Vindman published a memoir entitled Here, Right Matters, which quickly reached No. 2 on the New York Times Best Seller list. In it, he describes his role as a primary witness in Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial and argues that speaking out was not merely a decision but a duty rooted in his citizenship and military service.
The Folly of Realism (2025)
In February 2025, Vindman published The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine through PublicAffairs. Drawing on his deep expertise in Russian foreign policy, the book makes a case for a stronger Western commitment to Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
Wife — Rachel Vindman
Alexander Vindman is married to Rachel Vindman, née Cartmill. Their wedding was held in Oklahoma City on May 18, 2006. Rachel is the daughter of a football coach from Oklahoma. The couple has one daughter, born in 2011.
Rachel Vindman is the host of the Suburban Women Problem podcast and has become a prominent political voice in Democratic circles, particularly on issues of democracy, national security, and women’s political engagement.
Family — The Vindman Brothers
Alex Vindman is one of three brothers, all of whom served in the United States military.
- Yevgeny (Eugene) Vindman — Alex’s identical twin brother, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer, currently serving as a Member of Congress representing Virginia.
- Leonid Vindman — The older brother, a former Army officer and currently Founder and Managing Partner of Tungsten Capital Advisors, a financial markets firm.
2026 U.S. Senate Campaign — Florida
On January 27, 2026, Vindman announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida’s 2026 special election, created after Marco Rubio resigned in January 2025 to become U.S. Secretary of State. Vindman is seeking the Democratic Party nomination.
After settling in Florida with his wife and daughter following his military career, his campaign platform focuses on the cost of living, healthcare affordability, property insurance, and fighting political corruption — themes rooted in his two decades of service as a public servant who consistently chose principle over personal gain.
Current Roles and Affiliations
- Doctoral student — Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
- Senior Fellow — Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins SAIS
- Pritzker Military Fellow — Lawfare Institute
- Executive Board Member — Renew Democracy Initiative
- Senior Advisor — VoteVets
- 2026 Democratic candidate — U.S. Senate, Florida
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Alex Vindman?
Alex Vindman is a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel, former Director of European Affairs at the National Security Council, decorated Iraq War veteran, New York Times bestselling author, and 2026 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Florida.
Why is Alex Vindman famous?
Vindman became nationally known in October 2019 when he testified before Congress about the Trump–Ukraine phone call scandal, which led to Donald Trump’s first impeachment. He reported concerns about the July 25, 2019 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky and was later fired from the NSC.
What happened to Alex Vindman after impeachment?
After his testimony, Vindman was fired from the NSC on February 7, 2020, and retired from the Army in July 2020, citing a campaign of retaliation and intimidation by the Trump administration that blocked his promotion to colonel. The DoD inspector general later confirmed that the retaliation was unlawful.
Where is Alex Vindman now in 2026?
In January 2026, Vindman announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Florida’s 2026 special election. He is also a doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins SAIS and continues to write and speak on U.S. foreign policy toward Russia and Ukraine.
Who is Alex Vindman’s wife?
Alex Vindman is married to Rachel Vindman, née Cartmill. They married on May 18, 2006, in Oklahoma City, and have one daughter born in 2011. Rachel is the host of the Suburban Women Problem podcast and is an active voice in Democratic Party politics.
Did Alex Vindman write a book?
Yes. Vindman has written two books: Here, Right Matters (2021), a memoir about his impeachment testimony that reached No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list, and The Folly of Realism (2025), a foreign policy book on the West’s approach to Russia and Ukraine.
Is Alex Vindman related to Congressman Eugene Vindman?
Yes. Eugene (Yevgeny) Vindman is Alex Vindman’s identical twin brother. Eugene was also a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served as an attorney on the NSC and was dismissed the same day as Alex in February 2020. He later won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Virginia.
Sources: Wikipedia, Protect Democracy, Harvard Davis Center, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, George Mason University, CBS News, Colorado Politics, Army Times, Johns Hopkins SAIS. All information is based on publicly available reporting as of March 24, 2026.
