Philippines Uprising: Ripple effects in America (in National News) Asian American Bars: Heeding the no-smoking law? (in Bay Area News) Sunshine Policy: Will it work for the two Koreas? (in Business) Kip Welbeck's Self-Inflicted Paper Cuts (in A&E) Letters to the Editor: Comments from AsianWeek readers (in Opinion)

Matt Fong Nominated Under Secretary of the Army

President George W. Bush and Matt Fong smile together at De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif., during Bush’s visit to Silicon Valley while on his presidential campaign last year. Photo by Sam Chu Lin.

By Sam Chu Lin

After the confirmation of Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, President Bush has made yet another historic nomination — that of Matt Fong as Under Secretary of the Army.

“I feel tremendously proud that the President and the Secretary of Defense have expressed their confidence in me,” Fong said. “Hopefully, I will earn the confidence of the United States Senate and get confirmed by them, so I can assume my duties as soon as possible.”

Following Senate confirmation, Fong will become the first Asian American to occupy the post.

In anticipation of the nomination, Fong has been involved in transition briefings at the Pentagon to prepare for his new post.

“I’ve been getting a lot of in-depth knowledge on the structure of the Pentagon, the Army, Navy and Air Force, the inner workings of the Chief of Staff, and getting briefings of the status of countries, both friendly and non-friendly ones,” he stated. “It’s getting me and my other colleagues up to speed, so when we are confirmed and assume our responsibilities, we’ll be ready to work.”

Reaction from the community to Fong’s nomination has been quick and positive.

“It’s magnificent our president has seen fit to appoint a loyal and tested American of Chinese heritage for this position in protecting America’s defense,” Henry Tang, chairman of the Committee of 100, said. Tang’s organization recently released the results of a survey it sponsored, which showed many Americans held negative views of Chinese Americans and Asian Americans in general. Tang said that as their research shows, “there have been too many incidences of exaggerated stereotyping, which are undeserved and unwarranted.

He added: “Matt Fong stands as a stellar example of an American dedicated to serve our country in this all important position of trust.”

Fong, who is an Air Force Academy graduate, is hoping that he will be allowed to continue his duties as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, but that still has to be settled. Fong explained that it’s no accident he is going to the Army instead of the Air Force. It’s part of the Defense Secretary’s new strategy.

“Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is purposefully taking those of us who have worn one color of uniform, and he is putting us in another branch to create what he calls jointness,” Fong said. “He wants America’s military to think as one, not as a branch.”

Fong proudly mentions that his own father served in the Army Air Corp during World War II, and now he is bridging those two worlds once again.

“This is a huge honor,” he said. “The biggest responsibility when you take this post is thinking of the welfare of the men and women who are probably eating their chow on aluminum trays, who are at outposts with sand in their food, gritting it out to protect you and me. I will wake up every morning, thinking about how to better serve those men and women who are sacrificing for us and how to better prepare the next generation of men and women who will always come to call for service.”

During the presidential election, Fong was an advisor to Bush and campaigned with him throughout California. The Pepperdine University Regent and former California State Treasurer is the son of former California Secretary of State March Fong Eu.

Fong anticipates his confirmation hearings before the Senate will take place at the end of May or in early June.