Institute for Corean-American Studies



Torkel L. Patterson
Biographic Sketch

Torkel Lloyd Patterson was commissioned Special Assistant to the President and appointed Senior Director of Asian Affairs, National Security Council in February 2001 and brings extensive experience in U.S.-Japan relations and East Asia and Pacific affairs. From 1998-2000 he was headquartered in Tokyo as President of Raytheon Japan, senior country manager for Taiwan and President, North Asia Division, Raytheon International Inc. From 1994-2000 he was also Senior Associate at Pacific Forum CSIS, a Honolulu-based foreign policy research institute that serves as the Asia-Pacific arm of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D. C. From 1994-1998 he was a managing director of Pacific Century, Inc., and president of Group Pacific, firms specialising in business development through the Pacific Rim, and served as a consultant to Armitage Associates L. C. and The Scowcroft Group.

Torkel Patterson retired from the United States Navy in September 1994. While in the Navy, he served in a variety of key government posts responsible for the management of international relations with our Asian allies. From 1991 to 1993, he was Director of Asian Affairs on the National Security Council staff. In that capacity he assisted the National Security Advisor in coordinating security and trade policy toward Japan and Korea and was the White House policy officer responsible for Presidential meetings with leaders of those countries in Washington and abroad. He accompanied President Bush on his trip to East Asia and Australia in 1992 and Vice President Quayle and Defence Secretary Cheney on their visits to Japan and Korea.

From 1988 to 1993 Mr Patterson was the Senior Country Director for Japan in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defence, responsible for the day-to-day management of security relations between the United States and Japan. Fluent in Japanese, Mr. Patterson was deeply involved in facilitating Japan's contribution during the Gulf War, the FSX fighter co-development program, technology flow-back programs and host nation support negotiations. He was awarded the Defence Superior Service Medal for his efforts.

A native of Seal Beach, California, Torkel Patterson graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1976, where he majored in Soviet studies. From 1981 to 1984 he studies Japanese language at the U.S. State Department's Foreign Service Institute and he studies Japanese politics and U.S.-Japan relations at Tsukuba University graduate school in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, as an Olmsted Scholar. His other Navy assignments included service on destroyers and replenishment ships, two tours in the Persian Gulf and duty as Flag Lieutenant and Aide to the Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Japan.




ICAS Web Site Links for Torkel L. Patterson:

U.S. Strategic Interests and Position in East Asia: China, Japan and Korea
Spring 2001 Symposium





This page last updated 7/21/2001 jdb



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