Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink is a Partner at The Asia Group, bringing over 30 years of diplomatic experience and strategic insight into U.S. engagement across the Indo-Pacific. A career Foreign Service Officer, he has shaped U.S. policy toward China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and regional security, while championing U.S. business interests. He previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2021–2025), leading efforts to strengthen alliances, counter economic coercion, and promote regional prosperity through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. As U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam (2017–2021), he deepened bilateral ties, expanded trade and security cooperation, and oversaw historic milestones like the first U.S. aircraft carrier visit since the Vietnam War. Earlier roles include Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council, Deputy Chief of Mission in Beijing, and Director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs, where he managed high-level diplomacy and complex geopolitical challenges. A Nebraska native, Ambassador Kritenbrink holds degrees from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and the University of Virginia. He speaks Mandarin and Japanese, lives with his wife, Nami, and their two children.