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Eric Shinseki

Eric ShinsekiAKA Eric Ken Shinseki

Born: 28-Nov-1942
Birthplace: Lihue, Kauai, HI

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: Asian
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Military

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: US Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2009-14

Japanese-American, and the first person of Asian ancestry to achieve a ranking of four stars in the U.S. military. Became the 34th U.S. Army Chief of Staff on 22 June 1999, and Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department on 20 January 2009.

Shinseki is probably best known for his estimate before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, that "something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers" would be required to maintain order in post-war Iraq. Shinseki's estimate was openly ridiculed by undersecretary Paul Wolfowitz in Congressional testimony as being "wildly off the mark", and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld decided that a much smaller force would be adequate.

    University: BS, United States Military Academy (1965)
    University: MA English, Duke University
    University: National War College

    US Secretary of Veterans' Affairs (2009-14)
    US Army Chief of Staff (1999-2003)
    US Defense Department Army Vice Chief of Staff (1998-99)
    US Defense Department Commanding General, US Army Europe (1997-98)
    US Defense Department Army Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans (1996-97)
    Member of the Board of BancWest
    Member of the Board of Ducommun, Inc.
    Member of the Board of First Hawaiian Bank
    Member of the Board of Grove Farm Company, Inc.
    Member of the Board of Guardian Life (2006-)
    Member of the Board of Honeywell (2003-)
    Atlantic Council Director
    Air Medal
    Bronze Star "V" device, 2 oak leaf clusters
    Distinguished Service Medal
    Legion of Merit oak leaf cluster
    Meritorious Service Medal
    Purple Heart oak leaf cluster
    Shrapnel Injury mortar round, shoulder and chest (Apr-1966)
    Plane Crash helicopter (Sep-1966)
    Shrapnel Injury landmine, right foot (1970)
    Japanese Ancestry


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