Michael Armacost

Michael Armacost is currently a Shorenstein Distinguished Fellow at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center of Stanford University. From 1995 to 2002, he was President of The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Prior to his tenure with Brookings, Armacost served as US Ambassador to Japan from 1989 to 1993, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 1984-1989, and US Ambassador to the Philippines from 1982-1984. Armacost is the author of three books. His most recent, published in 1996, is Friends or Rivals? The Insider’s Account of US-Japan Relations. Armacost received the President’s Distinguished Service Award, the Defense Department’s Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award. A graduate of Carleton College, Armacost earned his masters and doctorate in public law and government from Columbia University.