Operation Tomodachi and Afterwards:

A U.S. Marine Corps Perspective

Photo By: Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch(Marine Corps Photo)

We will welcome Dr. Robert D. Eldridge to talk about the actions taken by Americans immediately following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11, 2011. American military forces in Japan began sending supplies, equipment, and personnel to the devastated areas to assist in relief operations known as "Operation Tomodachi."  The operation took place from March 12 to May 4, 2011, involving 24,000 U.S. service members, 189 aircrafts, and 24 naval ships. 

Dr. Eldridge was the deputy assistant chief of staff of the Marine Corps Installations Pacific in Japan, and he was one of the first responders to Northeastern Japan after the devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck the region. In his lecture, Dr. Eldridge will talk about his experiences and thought process during and after the "Operation Tomodachi" and what we could learn from the disaster.

Date: Thursday, May 15th 2014, 7PM 

Venue: The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
(5700 Wilshire Blvd. # 100, Los Angeles, CA 90036)

Admission: Free

Street parking is available near JFLA. Click Here for Parking Info
(NO PARKING VALIDATIONS PROVIDED)  

Lecturer Profile

    Dr. Robert D. Eldridge is the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for G-7, and Political Affairs and Public Diplomacy Officer, Marine Corps Installations Pacific (Okinawa, Japan). He was a tenured associate professor at the School of International Public Policy, Osaka University (OSIPP) and director, U.S.-Japan Alliance Affairs Division, Center for International Security Studies and Policy in Japan.  His area of research is in Japanese political and diplomatic history, Japanese Security Policy and Disaster Preparedness.

co-sponsored by