May was chosen as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month to commemorate the first immigration of Japanese individuals to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a long and rich history of contributions to the United States. 

Consider taking the time, particularly during May, but really any time, to learn how Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played a role in shaping our country. We can, and should, be sure to include the Asian American and Pacific Islander narrative in the history of America.  

A rather broad term, Asia-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia), and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island). 

Like most commemorative months, Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month originated in a congressional bill. In June 1977, Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House Resolution that called on the President to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. The following month, Sens. Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Both the resolution and the bill passed. On October 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration. President George H.W. Bush signed an extension 12 years later, making the weeklong celebration into a monthlong observance. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law.  

As America becomes more diverse, the Federal workforce and its leadership should similarly diversify in order to reflect the public we serve. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders currently account for only 5.6 percent of the total Federal workforce and only 4.4 percent of the Senior Executive Service (SES), the highest managerial level in the Federal Government. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has been collaborating with Federal agencies, colleges and universities, and community-based organizations to increase Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in the Federal Government at all levels, strengthening the pipeline for them to enter and advance up the ranks. 

One of the organizations that supports advancement of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders toward senior leadership ranks is the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN). Founded in 1993, AAGEN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization; its membership includes the highest-ranking Asian American and Pacific Islander career and appointed executives, foreign service officers, legislative and judiciary members, and military officers in government. 

FEIAA and AAGEN are exploring a joint agreement through a memorandum of understanding. By working in partnership, the two organizations will bring more to bear on strengthening leadership and diversity in the Federal Government. AAGEN has two hallmark program events in May and June. The graduating AAGEN SES Development Program (SESDP) class of 2019 will be celebrated in the Freer Gallery Auditorium on May 29 at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow. During the ceremony the next SESDP class will be inducted. Each of these cohorts represents the next class of potential executive leaders.  

On June 6, 2019, AAGEN will host its annual leadership workshop. It is an all-day training with three tracks, including time to set up a coaching/mentoring session. A luncheon is sponsored by the military to honor all the military services. The workshop will take place at the Doubletree in Pentagon City. Agencies are invited to participate by sponsoring their employees to attend the innovative leadership workshop. Check out www.aagen.org, or contact Dr. Vivian Chen at 202-205-1457 or vchen@fs.fed.us.