Historic Moment for the U.S. Marine Corps: Asian Pacific American Leadership Summit Blazes New Trails
by USMC APA Professionals
May 2020
For the first time in its history, a handful of Marines launched the 2020 USMC Asian Pacific American (APA) Professionals Leadership Seminar on March 12-13, 2020 in Quantico, Virginia. Together with APA leaders and key supporters, this two-day summit and training convened leaders to learn valuable leadership skills, as well as share unique experiences and insights. The event drew among the highest ranks of the Marine Corps and the Department of Defense.
Representative for New Jersey’s 3rd District Andy Kim enthusiastically lent his advocacy with the words, “The Asian American community is the fastest growing demographic group in the United States, and I am proud of organizations like the USMC APA Professionals that have helped to make sure that senior leadership positions in the U.S. Marine Corps represent the true diversity of our nation.” The support from public, civilian figures like Congressman Kim demonstrated a cross-industry collaboration that will continue to catalyze and catapult APA leaders in their upward journey.
As an even larger governmental body, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Director of the Diversity Management Operations Center stated, “Our shared values to selflessly serve this great country is noteworthy, however, you are paving the way to ensure we continue to advance Asian Americans to positions of empowered leadership.” As a true exemplar of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, Mr. Clarence Johnson clearly carved out time from his duties to support this initiative, as many in the field know, it takes a small spark of courage and conviction to charge toward major change.
“Diversity representation within our ranks remains a priority for Marine Recruiting. We continue to spare no effort to ensure our message resonates with men and women of varying ethnicities, backgrounds, and socio-economic standing,” said MajGen Bierman, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. “Organizations like the USMC APA Professionals provide a platform for us to deliver our message of opportunity.” MajGen Bierman also attended to lend his support as an advocate of APA Marines and leadership development.
The founder and organizer, Major Samuel Hong, expressed his sincere joy as he stated, “This all began as a hallway conversation at the FAPAC NLTP in Huntsville, Alabama. It’s now a major historic step that will impact the Marine Corps with such positive energy and leadership skills. As Marines, we actively protect, serve, and even sacrifice as proud Asian Pacific Americans. Today, we stand grateful and proud to get the support of such leaders, so that we can continue our mission to serve.” FAPAC is the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, the premier association for APAs in government, and they host the annual NLTP, or National Leadership Training Program.
FAPAC’s Executive Director, Ms. Olivia Adrian, chimed in with emotional and powerful words as she stated, “FAPAC is so excited to have provided a vehicle for such collaboration at our national event. This reflects what wonderful outcomes occur when we gather APA leaders from across the nation in a single place. As a national non-profit for APAs, FAPAC has spans decades of APA milestones and this particular one truly embodies what can happen with cross-industry, cross-geographic, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Dr. Vivian Chen, Chair of the Asian American Government Executive Network (AAGEN), commented, “The Marine Corps leadership recognizes that diverse participation and insights from Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) will strengthen the organization’s ability to protect and defend our country. AAGEN, like the Marines, stands out in marshalling the unique perspectives of diverse populations to support strategic initiatives within our government, as well as promoting diverse leadership talent. AAGEN proudly supports this momentous event and commends the Marine Corps for recognizing the contributions of AAPIs in the U.S. workforce and the need for more AAPIs at this leadership summit. Our ethnic community has much to contribute to this nation and this summit paves the path for the Corps and AAPIs.”
The program and curriculum were developed for APAs as a collaboration between the Marine Corps and Elevate, which is a multi-university partnership, along with Spectrum Knowledge, Inc. According to Dr. Vu H. Pham, “This momentous event will elevate the Marine Corps toward even further heights and honors its history of collaboration across cultures and globally—this marks a major historic step!”
This historic gathering marks the likely first of many for the Marine Corps and we hope it galvanizes into a grander movement. Onward! Upward!
To learn more about this event and its supporters, please contact: hello@usmcapaprofessionals.com.
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