Embassy of Japan
Press Release
November 3, 2019
2019 Autumn Conferment of Decoration
Secretary Leon E. Panetta
On November 3, 2019 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2019 Autumn Imperial Decorations. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta is among this year’s foreign recipients, and in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the relationship between Japan and the United States of America in the area of defense, he will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
- DECORATION: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun
- SERVICE: Contributed to strengthening the relationship between Japan and the United States in the area of defense
- NAME: Leon E. Panetta
- MAJOR TITLES:
- Former U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Chairman of The Panetta Institute for Public Policy
- ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): California (United States of America)
SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Former Secretary Leon E. Panetta served as the 23rd Secretary of Defense of the United States from 2011 to 2013, and he played an important role in strengthening the Japan-U.S. relationship. He demonstrated strong leadership in promoting dynamic defense corporation through bilateral training, joint surveillance activity, and joint/shared use. In addition, he has made outstanding contributions to enhancing the Japan-U.S. defense Alliance through such dialogues as the Japan-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting and the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2+2).
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