Colonel Robin H. ‘Sak’ Sakoda, USA (retired)

Robin H. “Sak” Sakoda is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of

National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He

previously was a Partner with Armitage International, L.C. since the

company was established in March 2005, and served as Executive

Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State December 2002 through

January 2005.

After U.S. Government service at the Pentagon in 1999, he headed

Sakoda Associates while also a Senior Associate with Armitage

Associates. During the last five years of his U.S. Army career, he

served as Country Director for Japan, Asian and Pacific Affairs in the

Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) from 1994. He was a member of

the panel headed by Richard Armitage that produced two reports in 2000

and 2007: U.S.-Japan Alliance: “Advancing Toward a Mature

Partnership”, and “US-Japan Alliance: Getting Asia Right through

2020”.

Mr. Sakoda was the Senior Japan Director in OSD from 1995 as the U.S.

and Japan reviewed and revised the Guidelines for US-Japan defense

cooperation, incorporating areas of peacekeeping, humanitarian relief,

and regional security. The Secretaries of State and Defense, with

their Government of Japan counterparts, issued the results of this

work in the revised “Defense Guidelines” on September 23, 1997. While

serving in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he also worked to

improve the relationship between US forces and communities in Okinawa

through land returns, noise abatement initiatives, and adjustments to

U.S. operational and administrative procedures culminating in the

Final Report issued by the Special Action Committee on Okinawa.

Mr. Sakoda graduated from The Military College of South Carolina, The

Citadel and was commissioned Infantry in May 1978. His operational

assignments include duty with the 2d Infantry Division in the Korea as

platoon leader and executive officer. He served as company commander

and in various staff positions while assigned to the 9th Infantry

Division, Fort Lewis, Washington from 1982 through 1985. From 1992

through 1994, he served in the 25th Infantry Division (LIGHT) as the

Assistant Chief of Staff, G5 for Civil-Military Operations; Chief, G3

Exercises; and Executive Officer of the 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry.

Mr. Sakoda was a foreign area officer and studied Japanese language at

the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California and the Foreign

Service Institute in Yokohama, Japan. He received his M.A. in National

Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in June 1988. Upon

completing language studies in Yokohama, he served as aide-de-camp to

the Commanding General, U.S. Army Japan/IX Corps in 1989.

Mr. Sakoda completed Airborne and Ranger schools; the Japan Ground

Self-Defense Force Command and Staff College in Ichigaya, Tokyo; and

the U.S. Army Command and Staff College.

Colonel Robin H. ‘Sak’ Sakoda, USA (retired)Robin H. “Sak” Sakoda is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department ofNational Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Hepreviously was a Partner with Armitage International, L.C. since thecompany was established in March 2005, and served as ExecutiveAssistant to the Deputy Secretary of State December 2002 throughJanuary 2005.After U.S. Government service at the Pentagon in 1999, he headedSakoda Associates while also a Senior Associate with ArmitageAssociates. During the last five years of his U.S. Army career, heserved as Country Director for Japan, Asian and Pacific Affairs in theOffice of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) from 1994. He was a member ofthe panel headed by Richard Armitage that produced two reports in 2000and 2007: U.S.-Japan Alliance: “Advancing Toward a MaturePartnership”, and “US-Japan Alliance: Getting Asia Right through2020”.Mr. Sakoda was the Senior Japan Director in OSD from 1995 as the U.S.and Japan reviewed and revised the Guidelines for US-Japan defensecooperation, incorporating areas of peacekeeping, humanitarian relief,and regional security. The Secretaries of State and Defense, withtheir Government of Japan counterparts, issued the results of thiswork in the revised “Defense Guidelines” on September 23, 1997. Whileserving in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he also worked toimprove the relationship between US forces and communities in Okinawathrough land returns, noise abatement initiatives, and adjustments toU.S. operational and administrative procedures culminating in theFinal Report issued by the Special Action Committee on Okinawa.Mr. Sakoda graduated from The Military College of South Carolina, TheCitadel and was commissioned Infantry in May 1978. His operationalassignments include duty with the 2d Infantry Division in the Korea asplatoon leader and executive officer. He served as company commanderand in various staff positions while assigned to the 9th InfantryDivision, Fort Lewis, Washington from 1982 through 1985. From 1992through 1994, he served in the 25th Infantry Division (LIGHT) as theAssistant Chief of Staff, G5 for Civil-Military Operations; Chief, G3Exercises; and Executive Officer of the 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry.Mr. Sakoda was a foreign area officer and studied Japanese language atthe Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California and the ForeignService Institute in Yokohama, Japan. He received his M.A. in NationalSecurity Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in June 1988. Uponcompleting language studies in Yokohama, he served as aide-de-camp tothe Commanding General, U.S. Army Japan/IX Corps in 1989.Mr. Sakoda completed Airborne and Ranger schools; the Japan GroundSelf-Defense Force Command and Staff College in Ichigaya, Tokyo; andthe U.S. Army Command and Staff College.