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Notes from the
Board Chair

Happy New Year members!

It is indeed a distinct honor to introduce AAGEN’s new leadership team. 

Greetings to you from the snow-covered mid-Western city of Minneapolis, I am Eric Won, your newly-elected chair. 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 diverse 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 particularly importance in this program is the parlaying of “soft leadership skills”, which provides that “winning edge” when competing for positions.

Finally, 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

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Dr. Glenda Nogami Streufert

AAGEN Scholarship Program Chair | Kauai, Hawaii

Dr. (Nogami) Streufert received her Ph.D. from Purdue University and is a graduate of the Army War College (USAWC). She has had a career as a senior researcher, scholar, and professor in the United States and in Germany. Dr. Streufert was a senior researcher at the Army Research Institute; a Professor, Director of curriculum research and strategic leadership, and the Defense Senior Executive Leadership Program at USAWC. She also directed the Workforce Effectiveness and Planning Branch in INS and later in the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer of DHS. She retired as the Director of Academics at the US Army Management Staff College. She has published over 80 articles, books and technical reports in English and German.


After retiring, Dr. Streufert returned to Hawaii and continued her public service to AAGEN and her community. In 2009, she established the AAGEN Scholarship Program which she continues to chair. She has also served as the Administrator of the County Civil Defense Agency, and is currently a County Planning Commissioner.

Lida Peterson

Executive Director | Centreville, Virginia

Lida Peterson, CPPM, CDMP, CTA, is President of the Connected International Meeting Professionals Association (CIMPA). With over 15 years as an event planner, Lida also has worked in information technology management in both the private sector and with the International Monetary Fund. She is a longtime friend of AAGEN, currently serving on the board of Pan Pacific American Leaders & Mentors (PPALM) and hosted AAGEN members as speakers, advisors, and participants.

Leanne Thiel

Treasurer | Ellicott City, Maryland

Leanne Thiel, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland, has served as Program Administrator for AAGEN’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SES-CDP) for several years, helping more than 50 participants experience frictionless orientation, learning, networking, governance, and graduation. As AAGEN’s treasurer, Leanne is charged with budget, contracts (including QA), and Federally-mandated reporting for the organization.

Michael J. Yaguchi

Secretary | Seattle, Washington

Residing in Seattle, Washington, Michael J. Yaguchi, Lt Col, USAF (Ret) has been an AAGEN contributor for many years. Most notably, Mike has appeared and brought distinguished veterans and active duty personnel for ceremonial tributes to AAPIs in military service, including those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Mike served for over 27 years as an Airman and officer in the U.S. Air Force, transitioned to Federal civilian service, and now advocates for and mentors veterans. Mike is an advocate for identifying and preparing outstanding candidates for leadership positions across government, at all levels.

Stanley Fujii

Vice Chairman | Manassas, Virginia

Stan Fujii is a resident of Manassas, Virginia. He has served AAGEN in various capacities continuously since 2004, including as Executive Director, chair of several committees, and official photographer. Through his talents as a photojournalist, Stan has chronicled AAGEN’s activities for over two decades. In 2014, after 31 years of Federal service from the US Small Business Administration, Stan retired and opened his own practice, Fujii Group, LLC, assisting American small businesses with procurement preparation and readiness.

Eric Won

Chair | Minneapolis, Minnesota

A retired Federal Executive living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Eric is among AAGEN’s founding executive mentors. He has developed and placed AAGEN members into executive positions at the Departments of Human Services, Justice, and Agriculture, NASA and the Small Business Administration. Eric began his Federal career at OMB under President Carter, where he has served in several capacities through President Obama. His Federal tours have also included leadership positions in the Departments of Agriculture and Labor, FEMA, CEQ, GSA, EPA, and SBA. Following retirement from Federal service, Eric entered into executive roles in the telecommunications, cyber security, and management consulting industries. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, he was educated at Princeton University, the University of Hawaii, Cornell University and the Federal Executive Institute. In retirement, Eric has chaired several State and local boards and commissions, in areas from public safety to municipal capital investments, as well as with arts organizations.