For Immediate Release

May 13, 2004

For more information, please call Maria Tamburri in White House Media Affairs at 202.456.1414.

(Photo caption)

President George W. Bush signs an executive order creating the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Pictured with the President are, from left, Susan Ralston, Executive Assistant to the Senior Advisor; Eddy Badrina, director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and Chiling Tong, associate director, Office of Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minority Business Development Agency. The new Commission will be housed at the Department of Commerce in the Minority Business Development Agency and will focus on providing equal economic opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islanders where they may be underserved.

Eddy Robles Badrina is the Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In this capacity, he is charged with coordinating all federal activities under the Executive Order entitled "Increasing Economic Opportunity And Business Participation Of Asian Americans And Pacific Islanders." The purpose of Executive Order is to provide equal economic opportunities for full participation of Asian American and Pacific Islander businesses in our free market economy where they may be underserved and thus improving the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Mr. Badrina is also responsible for working with the White House and the President's Advisory Commission on AAPIs to advise the President on the needs and concerns of this population.

Previously, Mr. Badrina served as Senior Associate at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Specializing in business development and economic growth, he educated and assisted U.S. businesses as they prepared to invest in foreign emerging markets. Prior to OPIC, Mr. Badrina was a congressional advisor at the U.S. Department of State. Focusing on Middle East policy, he acted as a conduit between the State Department and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. In addition to his efforts on Middle East legislation, he worked with top State Department officials on a variety of global issues, including the United Nations, trafficking in persons, democracy development, and human rights. Mr. Badrina’s federal career began as an appointee to the White House Liaison Office at the Department of State, where he was involved in the Bush Administration’s transition efforts. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Badrina was an associate at the Corporate Executive Board, a best practices research firm located in Washington, DC.

The son of Filipino immigrants, Mr. Badrina was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University, earning his B.S. in psychology, and was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Aggie Band. Pursuing his interests in government and international affairs, he went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Public Service and Administration from the George Bush School of Government, and also served as a Bush School Fellow in the Capitol Hill office of Rep. Kevin Brady. Mr. Badrina is married to Rachel Hammond Badrina, and they have one daughter.