Lon S. Hatamiya, J.D.
Secretary
California Technology, Trade & Commerce Agency

Lon Shoso Hatamiya is Secretary of the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, the state's primary promoter of economic development, job creation and business retention. His long and distinguished career in both public service and the private sector helped make him Governor Gray Davis' nominee for the post on January 5, 1999.

After unanimous confirmation by the California State Senate on April 8, 1999, Secretary Hatamiya became the first Asian Pacific American to hold a cabinet-level position in California state history. In his position, Secretary Hatamiya advises Governor Davis on all matters related to commerce and trade, while serving as the voice of California business within the state Cabinet. In addition, he directs numerous programs that stimulate economic activity for international trade and investment, small business, rural development, tourism, manufacturing, entertainment, and an array of other California-based industries

Additionally, under Secretary Hatamiya's leadership, the Agency has added a Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation, designed to ensure that California remains the leader in the research, development and commercialization of new technologies.

Prior to his appointment, Secretary Hatamiya served as Administrator for the Foreign Agricultural Service in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). While there he led a worldwide agency that promotes the growth of exports of American agricultural, fish, and forest products. He also oversaw the USDA's obligations concerning international trade agreements, negotiations, and trade policy development. Secretary Hatamiya served as Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of USDA from 1993 to 1997, where he was responsible for over 50 federal programs. During his tenure, AMS received two "Hammer Awards" from the National Performance Review. The awards recognize increased efficiency and cost savings within a federal government program.

In addition to his experience in public service, Secretary Hatamiya was also the founder and President of an international management-consulting firm, practiced law for a national law firm, and worked for both the Procter and Gamble Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Sony Corporation in Tokyo, Japan.

In 1991, Secretary Hatamiya was selected for the California Agriculture Leadership Program, comprised of the top leaders in California agriculture. He has previously served on the California Rural Economic Development Infrastructure Panel, and the Boards of Directors of Planned Parenthood (Sacramento Valley chapter) and the Marysville chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL).

He is past president of the Sacramento Chapter of the JACL, where he was recognized for his long-term work to obtain reparations for Japanese Americans interned during World War II.

Secretary Hatamiya graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in Economics. He earned his Masters of Business Administration in International Business and Entrepreneurial Studies from the Anderson Graduate School of Business at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and his juris doctorate from the UCLA School of Law. He resides in Davis, California, with his wife Nancy and their two sons.