Lt Col Michael Yaguchi, USAF (Ret.)

Mr. Yaguchi was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. In 1978, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a medical service specialist. In 1986, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Officer Training School. Mr. Yaguchi has served in a variety of missile operational and higher headquarters staff assignments throughout the United States and has served overseas too. Mr. Yaguchi retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2006. He accepted a position supporting the Joint Staff to help develop a new nuclear arms control treaty with the Russian Federation.

 In 2008, he accepted a federal government position in OSD Policy where he served first  as the Director of Nuclear Policy, Director of Strategic Arms Control Policy, and assumed the Director of Human Capitol duties as a career broadening assignment. In June 2012, Mr. Yaguchi assumed his current position as Deputy Director for Strategic Planning, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs. Mr. Yaguchi’s non-profit experience includes Serving as a member of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Communications Committee, and Public Policy Committee, Alzheimer’s Association, NE Nebraska Chapter; Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Director, Japanese American Veterans Association; and Board of Governors Go For Broke National Education Center. Mr. Yaguchi’s involvement with PPALM started in 2006 and is one of the founding members of PPALM. He was recently nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, Washington, DC.