SUBJ: ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN (APA) HERITAGE MONTH
1. THE MONTH OF MAY IS DESIGNATED AS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH.  THE THEME FOR THIS YEARS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN
OBSERVANCE IS "LEADERSHIP TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF A CHANGING
WORLD".  MAY WAS CHOSEN TO COMMEMORATE THE IMMIGRATION OF THE FIRST
JAPANESE TO THE UNITED STATES ON MAY 7, 1843, AND TO MARK THE
COMPLETION OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD ON MAY 10, 1969.  A
JOINT RESOLUTION PASSED BY CONGRESS PROCLAIMED MAY 1-10 AS ASIAN
PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK IN 1979 AND LATER, PRESIDENT GEORGE
H. W. BUSH SIGNED A PROCLAMATION IN 1990 WHICH EXTENDED THE WEEK-
LONG CELEBRATION TO THE ENTIRE MONTH.
2. AS TESTAMENT TO APA ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THE COAST GUARD, IT IS A
PLEASURE TO SPOTLIGHT MS. GIAO PHAN, SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
MEMBER.  MS. PHAN IS THE COAST GUARD DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
ACQUISITION PROGRAMS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A $27 BILLION
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 20 MAJOR PROJECTS THAT
DELIVER PLATFORMS AND MISSION SYSTEMS TO THE COAST GUARDS
OPERATIONAL FORCES.  DURING HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER IN FEDERAL
SERVICE, MS. PHAN HAS DEMONSTRATED A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERTISE IN NAVAL ENGINEERING AND ACQUISITIONS.  MS. PHAN ALSO
MANAGED THE DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION OF COMPLEX WEAPONS SYSTEMS
AND HANDLED MANY POLITICALLY HIGH INTEREST AND STRATEGICALLY
IMPORTANT PROJECTS WHILE EMPLOYED BY THE U. S. NAVY.
3. ITS WITH GREAT HONOR THAT THE COAST GUARD PAYS TRIBUTE TO
AMERICAN CITIZENS OF ASIAN PACIFIC DESCENT, AND CELEBRATE THE
VARIED TRADITIONS WHICH HAVE GREATLY ENRICHED THE LIVES AND CULTURE
OF ALL AMERICANS.  MUCH OF THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA LIES IN OUR
DIVERSE HERITAGE WITH TIES OFTEN FORGED THROUGH OUR COMMON QUEST
FOR FREEDOM AND EQUALITY. COAST GUARD UNITS SHOULD USE THIS
OBSERVANCE TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR SERVICE AND OUR NATION.
4. T. A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
5. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.