Filipino Americans, President Biden’s Administration

By: Lourdes G. Mon

 

Keeping up with current and signifi cant news, including successes of Filipino Americans, I did a bit of research to fi nd out if there are high-ranking Filipino Americans in the Biden administration. Here’s what I found. Let’s get to know them.

Nani Ann Coloretti: Deputy Director, Offi ce of Management & Budget

Confi rmed on March 29, 2022, Nani Ann Coloretti is the highest -ranking Filipino American in President Biden’s administration. She is the deputy director of the Offi ce of Management and Budget (OMB).

The 53-year-old career offi cial was confi rmed to the largest offi ce within the Executive Offi ce of the President. The OMB oversees the implementation of the president’s vision across the Executive Branch. She works with Director Shalanda Young, the fi rst African American woman to lead the OMB.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Coloretti worked in several federal agencies. She was a senior vice-president at the Urban Institute; deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); assistant secretary for management and acting CFO of the Department of the Treasury; and acting COO of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Communications from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Ms. Coloretti is a recipient of the National Public Service Award, the Public Policy and International Affairs Achievement Award, and the Government Finance Offi cers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she is married to David Goldstein, her husband of over 15 years. Mr. Goldstein is a teacher and education policy consultant. They are the proud parents of 12-year old son Kaleo Goldstein- Coloretti.

Her parents are both deceased: the late Tony Coloretti and Marielani Yadao Coloretti.

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Camille Calimlin-Touton: Depity Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation Camille Calimlim Touton, a water policy expert, was named Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation in the Biden administration. She is the fi rst Filipino American appointed to this position. The bureau is a water management agency under the US Department of the Interior, which oversees dams, canals, and hydroelectric plants across the Western United States. It is the nation’s largest wholesaler of water and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the western US.

The announcement of Ms. Touton’s appointment was made by Representative Grace Napolitano of the 32nd District of California. Napolitano said Touton’s appointment is “historic” as she is “the fi rst Filipino American to serve in this important agency leadership role.

Ms. Touton is a master of the complicated issues of Western water policy, who fully understands the grave threats posed by climate change and unpredictable drought cycles. She is well respected by the wide spectrum of water leaders, including Democrats and Republicans, federal, state, and local water offi cials, and non-governmental groups.” Ms. Touton previously worked in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Ms. Touton received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and her Master’s in Public Policy from George Mason University. She has counseled U.S. senators, members of Congress, and was a leader in the Obama administration’s Department of Interior’s Offi ce of Water and Science.

In the Philippines, after her appointment, Rep. Christopher de Venecia of Pangasinan’s fourth district fi led a resolution in the House of Representatives to congratulate Touton. “The appointment of Calimlim-Touton brings honor and pride not only to the people of Dagupan City but also to the entire Philippines,” Rep. De Venecia said.

Ms. Touton was born on May 15, 1984, in Quezon City, the daughter of Carl and Marlene Calimlim, who were from Pangasinan. She and her family immigrated to the US when she was in grade school.

Her husband Matthew Touton, is General Attorney at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Offi ce of General Counsel. *******

Veronica Valdez: Special Assistant, Department of Defense)

Veronica Valdez, the new Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacifi c Security Affairs, was sworn-in on January 20, 2021. She is a former special assistant to both Navy and Air Force leadership and was the policy advisor to the Commission President at the Port of Seattle, a critical gateway to Asia.

Ms. Valdez received a B.S. degree in International Business from Ohio State University, a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the University of California San Diego, and studied Mandarin at Peking University, as a Truman National Security Project Fellow. She has received awards, including, the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Navy Superior Public Service Award, and Presidential recognition.

Ms. Valdez was born in Manila and grew up in Sydney, Australia.

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Jason Tengco: White House Liaison, US Offi ce of Personnel Management (OPM) Jason Tengco, is the White House liaison in the US Offi ce of Personnel Management (OPM). It is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that manages U.S. civilian services. The agency provides federal Human Resources policy, oversight and support, and tends to healthcare, life insurance and retirement benefi ts but not for federal government employees, retirees and their dependents. The current director, Karin Ahuja is an Indian American, whose parents immigrated from India.

Mr. Tengco was chief of staff for the Coalitions Department of the Biden-Harris campaign prior to his appointment. He also served as executive director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations; Pres. Barack Obama’s White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacifi c Islanders, Senior Adviser on Public Engagement; and, scholar to Rep. Mike Honda’s Asian Pacifi c American Institute for Congressional Studies.

He is a Political Science graduate at UCLA, and in May last year he fi nished his Master’s in Public Affairs from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. He was a fellow for Public Policy and International Affairs at Carnegie Mellon University.

Mr. Tengco is the proud son of Filipino immigrants, born on May 27, 1988, in San Mateo, California, and raised in Foster City, CA.

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Gloria D. Steele was appointed by President Biden on January 20, 2021, to serve as acting Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) until April 2021. She retired from her government post to be Chief Operating Offi cer of CARE, an international humanitarian organization fi ghting global poverty and world hunger by working alongside women and girls.

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Filipino Americans appointed to the President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacifi c Islanders are:

Luisa Blue – former Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President

Teresita Batayola – International Community Health Services (ICHS) President and CEO

Amy Agbayani – an emeritus assistant vice chancellor for student diversity and equity at University of Hawaii at Manoa.