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From the Far East to the Old West: Chinese and Japanese Settlers in Montana

For Immediate Release Contact:

July 17, 2006 Mary-Jane Atwater, Director of Communications
202-347-1994

Six Federal Employees Awarded Mansfield Fellowships

Thirteenth Group to Study Japanese before Heading to Japan Next Year

(Washington, D.C.) The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation today announced that six U.S. federal government officials have been awarded Mike Mansfield Fellowships. The Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program is a two-year, government-to-government exchange—the first of its kind for the United States and Japan. Established by Congress in 1994, the Mansfield Fellowships are building a corps of U.S. government officials who can be a resource to their agencies on Japan issues because they have Japanese language skills and a firsthand understanding of the political, economic and strategic dimensions of the complex U.S.-Japan relationship.
The following U.S. government officials were selected by a four-member bi-national committee:
Jay Biggs, Trade Analyst – Senior Analyst for Asia Pacific Regulation, United States Department of Commerce

Cory Hanna, Major, Operations Support Flight Commander, United States Air Force

Ken Ishimaru, Research Specialist, United States Department of Energy

Michael D. Panzera, Trial Attorney, United States Department of Justice

Jemelyn Tayco, Asia Pacific Regional Specialist, United States Department of Defense

Anthony Waller, Tenant Representative, Office of the Chief Architect, Public Buildings Service
U.S. General Services Administration

An intensive two-year program, the Fellowships enable a select group of federal employees to develop an in-depth understanding of Japan and its government through hands-on, practical work inside Japanese government ministries and agencies, preceded by a year of intensive, full-time study in the United States of the Japanese language and area studies. The Fellowships are administered by The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation through an annual Congressional appropriation, with the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as grantor.

“The thirteenth group of Mansfield Fellows has an impressive record of international experience with a focus on trade, health regulation, energy, defense, and accessible building design. These six federal employees plan to use their fellowship experience to enhance their agencies’ Japan-related policies and programs and strengthen our government’s relations with Japan,” said Gordon Flake, executive director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. “During their two years as Mansfield Fellows, they will learn Japanese, discover how their Japanese hosts address issues similar to those in their U.S. agencies, observe the internal dynamics in Japanese government offices, and build networks of contacts in Japan’s government. These Fellows will return to their agencies prepared to work on U.S.-Japan cooperative programs and activities.”

Since the Fellowships were established, 81 Fellows, representing 22 agencies and departments of the U.S. government, have entered the program.

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation is a 501(C)3 organization that advances Mike Mansfield’s lifelong work to promote understanding and cooperation among the nations and peoples of Asia and the United States. The Foundation’s exchanges, policy dialogues, research and education facilitate dialogue among Asians and Americans, explore the underlying issues that influence policies, create networks among Asian and American leaders, and increase public awareness about Asia. The Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, Japan, and Missoula, Montana. ###

Please forward media inquiries to:

Mary-Jane Atwater

Director of Communications

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation
1401 New York Ave. NW Suite 740
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: (202) 347-1994
Fax: (202) 347-3941
matwater@mansfieldfdn.org