COL Throop is a visiting U.S. Army War College Fellow at ASPI for academic year 2022-2023.

Prior to arriving at ASPI, he served as a defense liaison in Canberra for nearly two years. His previous assignments include duty with the Joint Staff in the Pentagon; U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii; U.S. Africa Command at RAF Molesworth; and as a liaison to the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood in the United Kingdom.

Alan was commissioned an Armor Officer in 1999. He initially led an M1A1 Tank Platoon in Germany and later deployed to Kosovo in support Operation Joint Guardian. He served as a military observer for the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission at the Demilitarized Zone and commanded an M1A1 Tank Company at Camp Casey in the Republic of Korea.

He deployed to Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving with the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in 2003-2004. He also served with a Special Operations Advisory Group in Kabul during Operation Enduring Freedom/Resolute Support from 2014-2015.

Alan graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has a Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College. In his free time, he enjoys playing ice hockey, golf, and learning to cook.