Biographic Sketch 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.
This page last updated 7/21/2001 jdb |
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