Leading with Purpose. Serving with Impact.
For over three decades, AAGEN has advanced Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander leadership in public service.
Our Profile
Founded in 1993, the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders, whose members are experienced executive leaders serving the public sector at the Federal, state, local, and other governmental levels.
Our Mission
To promote, expand, and support development and growth of Asian American and Pacific Islander senior leadership in public service, across the nation.
Our History
Beginning as an informal gathering of senior Federal executives in 1993, the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) has grown into one of America’s premier collaborative networks of Asian and Pacific Islander American public sector leaders.
In October of 2005, AAGEN held its first national leadership conference. This mutual learning session was structured to assist senior leaders in performing at the highest levels of effectiveness by strengthening their leadership skills. In addition to formal training, attendees were offered one-on-one mentoring and coaching.
AAGEN succeeds because of the dedication of its volunteers, who contribute significant time and talent to organize, develop, plan, and deliver on AAGEN’s mission.
AAGEN Leadership
AAGEN’s leadership team members are located in six time zones, from the Washington DC metropolitan area, through Minnesota and Seattle to Hawaii. Our presence across the country reflects our desire to serve our broadly-based nationwide membership who lead organizations at the Federal, State, and local levels.
Notes from the Board Chair
Happy New Year members!
It is indeed a distinct honor to introduce AAGEN’s new leadership team.
I am Eric Won, your newly-elected AAGEN chair, greeting you from the snow-covered mid-Western city of Minneapolis. Other AAGEN leadership team members are dispersed coast-to-coast with Vice Chair Stan Fujii in Northern Virginia, Treasurer Leanne Thiel from Ellicott City, Maryland, Secretary Mike Yaguchi from Seattle, Washington, and our Executive Director, Lida Peterson, who resides in Centreville, Virginia. AAGEN’s scholarship program director, Dr. Glenda Nogami Streufert, resides on the Hawaiian Garden Isle of Kauai.
Adapting to and flourishing during periods of transformation are baked into the DNA of our many Asian American and Pacific Island (AAPI) cultures. Whether the source of change is technology or politics, economic forces or contagion, we have historically found opportunity in change and transform ourselves to flourish and grow in that moment.
The 2026-2027 year promises to be one of program renewal, with a focus on one of the most challenging themes that we, as government employees, face: Transformation.
- Over the next year, AAGEN will be focusing on a set of “in the moment” webinars to help our members navigate their professional lives as leaders and aspiring leaders in a period of tremendous upheaval. Resiliency and self-investment will be central themes as we help our members to uncover and seize opportunities that might fall their ways. We will be discussing what opportunity looks like, how each of us might pivot, and how we might capture those breakthrough moments for our own professional advancement.
- AAGEN is also reframing our executive leadership training to adapt to the new requirements for senior executive roles in the Federal government. These competencies also provide tremendous advantage for those seeking senior level leadership roles in State and local government agencies.
The five new Federal Executive Core Qualifications will be explored and explained, enabling the development of Individual Development Strategies for our members to excel and be competitive. Individual mentoring is provided in this program, developing personal roadmaps that will make AAGEN leadership candidates competitive on their journey to top government leadership positions. Of particular importance in this program is the parlaying of soft leadership skills, which provide a “winning edge” when competing for positions.
- AAGEN will be taking a brief respite in 2026 to plan for a powerful national conference in 2027 that convenes AAGEN members from across the nation for a multi-day mutual learning conference. Planning for this event begins in spring 2026. In addition to nationally-renowned speakers, panelists, and trainers from local, State, and Federal governments, lecturers from nationally-ranked public policy programs will be available for one-on-one counseling sessions. We are seeking volunteers from across the country and all levels of government to help shape and plan the 2027 AAGEN national conference.
As with any volunteer-based national organization, AAGEN is always looking for people who willingly offer their time and talents to plan, develop, and deliver programs. We especially welcome the growth of our local and State government members.
Predictions on The Year of the Fire Horse are auspicious and track with AAGEN’s 2026-2027 goals.
The 2026 Year of the Fire Horse is predicted to be an intense, fast-paced, and transformative year, characterized by high-octane energy, passion, and ambition. As a once-every-60-year event, this period favors bold action and innovation.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you as AAGEN journeys into bright, new horizons, and invite you to join us on this journey.
– ERIC WON, AAGEN CHAIR
Governance and Committees
AAGEN operates through a structured network of committees that ensure strong governance, effective programming, and community engagement.
By-Laws
Ensures governance compliance and organizational integrity.
Communications
Manages messaging, outreach, and member engagement.
General Counsel
Provides legal guidance and oversight.
Finance
Oversees budgeting, financial planning, and stewardship.
Outreach, Liaison and Membership
Builds partnerships and grows the AAGEN community.
Programs
○ Federal
○ State and Local
○ Annual Conference
Leadership Development
Advances executive readiness and career growth programs.
AAGEN Scholarship Program
The AAGEN Scholarship Awards Committee has the responsibility for receiving, reviewing and judging the applications. The Committee will have a period of four (4) weeks for its deliberations. It shall prepare and submit a written recommendation for scholarship awards to the Chair of AAGEN by May 15th of each year.
