WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye is pleased to announce that Dr. Jeanette C. Takamura was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the position of Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources.

"I wish to extend my congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Takamura in her new and challenging endeavor. Dr. Takamura's leadership and many years of expertise will be of great benefit in her new capacity as the Assistant Secretary for Aging. She will, no doubt, represent the people of Hawaii and our nation with much integrity. I am pleased to have played a role in her appointment," said Senator Inouye.

The Assistant Secretary for Aging will provide executive level leadership in the development and implementation of policies and programs related to America's elderly, oversees the Administration on Aging, and administers grants and provides direction and technical assistance to states and other grantees to promote the development of community-based assistance, including social support and nutrition services.

Since 1994, Dr. Takamura has served as the First Deputy of Health for the Hawaii Department of Health, which oversees a $604 million budget and over 3,500 employees. Her responsibilities include administering the Department's programs and policy development, legislative strategies, information systems, district health offices, and child and adolescent mental health and alcohol and drug abuse divisions. She also provides leadership for the Department's telemedicine initiative, women's health activities, intra-agency coordination of aging disability and long-term care programs, and efforts to address the needs of rural and underserved communities.

From 1987 to 1994, Dr. Takamura was the director of the Hawaii Executive Office on Aging. She is credited with the development of programs to prepare Hawaii's diverse population for an aging society, including the development of multi-generational consumer education and empowerment, long-term care, Alzheimer's awareness, and pre-retirement and life planning programs. Dr. Takamura attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she earned a bachelor's degree and a masters in Social Work, and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University, located in Massachusetts.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dr. Takamura is the daughter of Jane and Jiro Chikamoto. Dr. Takamura is married to Carl T. Takamura, who is the Executive Director of the Hawaii Business Roundtable. They have one daughter, Mari Leigh, who is in the 9th grade at Iolani School.