President Obama’s November Trip to Asia: A Post-Trip Briefing

On December 15, Sasakawa USA hosted a private conversation with Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink, Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. This Speaker Series event included an off-the-record discussion on the implications of President Barack Obama’s recent visit to Asia to attend the G-20, APEC, US-ASEAN and East Asia Summits, and how those summits may impact U.S. policy toward the Asia-Pacific region and U.S.-Japan relations.

About the Speaker

Daniel Kritenbrink has served as Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council since June 2015. In that role, Mr. Kritenbrink advises the President and National Security Advisors on foreign policy and national security matters related to the Asia-Pacific, and is also responsible for coordinating U.S. Government policy toward the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Kritenbrink is a career member of the State Department Senior Foreign Service. Immediately prior to joining the National Security Council, Mr. Kritenbrink served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing (2013-2015). He spent much of the past decade working on China, having also served as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs in Beijing (2011-2013); Director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs at the Department of State, including four months as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2009-2011); and Political Officer in Beijing (2006-2009). Mr. Kritenbrink’s other overseas Foreign Service assignments have included Tokyo (1994-95, 2000-2004), Sapporo (1995-97), and Kuwait City (1997-1999). He also previously served as Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

Mr. Kritenbrink holds an M.A. from the University of Virginia and a B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. His foreign languages are Chinese and Japanese. He and his wife Nami have two children.

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