Born near Detroit, Michigan. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, my Master’s Degree from Hiroshima University and my PhD from the University of Tokyo. I have taught for several years at multiple universities in Japan at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. I held senior management positions in the Japan affiliates of major U.S. companies in the fields of pharmaceuticals and finance. I ran my own healthcare consultancy. For 5 years I was responsible for bilateral trade negotiations between the U.S. and Japan while at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). I spent 7 years working as a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of State, with assignments in Mexico, Japan and Washington, D.C.