Robert D. Eldridge

Robert D. Eldridge, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, scholar, and former public official who currently serves as an advisor to numerous regional and domestic foundations, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations. He was a tenured associate professor at the Graduate School of International Public Policy, Osaka University, from 2001-2009 prior to joining the U.S. Department of Defense to serve as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Government and External Relations, Marine Corps Forces Japan from 2009-2015. During his time with the Marine Corps, he helped plan and lead Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. In 2012, he received the Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro Award for academic and public service contributions. His publications include: The Origins of the Bilateral Okinawa Problem, The Origins of U.S. Policy in the East China Sea Islands Dispute, On Okinawa, The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, and Operation Tomodachi.