The Asian American Foreign Affairs Association and the South Asian American Employee Association (AAPI) hosted a virtual heritage month event with Bureau of Western Hemispheres Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie Chung, the Consul General of Mumbai David J. Ranz, and Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Hugo Yon, May 22. The event aimed to share global and field perspectives of repatriating Americans during COVID-19. Yon shared how his team innovated with airlines and stakeholders to double flight capacity that repatriated more than 100,000 Americans worldwide. Chung offered insight into how she and her team modeled the values of “One Team, One Mission” while assisting Americans returning from Peru. Ranz shared how his team coordinated with local authorities to repatriate thousands of citizens while focusing on maintaining resilience. These contributions and stories showed AAPI’s guests how compassionate leadership can accomplish the Department of State’s mission and ensure the well-being of all people.
Photo courtesy of AAPI
