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About Lester Chang
Member of the New York State Assembly (District 49)
Meet Lester
Lester Chang was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2022, defeating a 30-year incumbent. He represents the 49th Assembly District, serving the communities of Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, and Borough Park.
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A True New Yorker
Lester was born in public housing on the Lower East Side of New York City to immigrant Chinese parents who were determined to provide a better life for their three children.
At the age of 8, Lester's father, a cook at a Chinese restaurant, passed away after a battle with cancer.
After briefly living with relatives in Hong Kong, his family returned to New York and settled in Brooklyn’s Midwood neighborhood.
Working for You
A graduate of Midwood High School, Lester earned a BS in Accounting from Brooklyn College and a Master’s in International Transportation from SUNY Maritime College.
He began his career in banking and finance before moving into global logistics, where he led operations across India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China.
Fighting for You
In addition to his successful career in the private sector, Lester served nearly 24 years as a Navy Reservist.
Following the events of 9/11, he was assigned to support Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. and supporting United States Coast Guard in New York City's Fort Wadsworth.
In 2009 & 2010, he was deployed as a military analyst to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, where he held the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO3).
On the Frontlines
Lester is a current member of the New York State Naval Militia and has volunteered for State active duty in support of Operation COVID-19 from March 2020 to March 2021.
He played a key role in converting the Jacob Javits Convention Center into a field hospital that treated over 1,000 COVID-19 patients and later transitioning it into a vaccination center that served more than a quarter-million patients.
Assemblyman Lester Chang serving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A proud New Yorker, Lester resides in Brooklyn and served on the executive committee of his local Chinatown American Legion Post 1291, which has over 400 members.
Leading the Way
A born-and-raised New Yorker and product of the city’s public schools, Lester understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing working families and immigrant communities.
As an Asian American, he has fought to ensure that the Asian American community has a strong voice in government and a seat at the table.
As an Afghan War veteran, he brings that same commitment to standing up for veterans and their families.
Lester’s life and career reflect his belief that public service means fighting for the communities that built New York and making sure every New Yorker has a voice in their government.
