Biography
Jon Huntsman was tapped by President Barack Obama to serve as United States Ambassador to China in May 2009 and his nomination was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. Huntsman was sworn in as Ambassador immediately following his resignation as the Governor of Utah on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 11:30 a.m.
Huntsman was elected twice as Governor of Utah, including in 2008 with a record percent of the vote, including the majority in all 29 counties. As Governor, Huntsman governed with his eye toward maintaining Utah’s unparalleled quality of life, continually increasing the state’s economic competitiveness and maximizing funding to Utah’s public education system.
Huntsman’s breadth of experience in Asia has been developed over a lifetime of interest and involvement. He has previously lived in Asia three times and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.
Huntsman’s public service career began as a White House staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan and has since included appointments as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Asia, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. As a U.S. Trade Ambassador, Huntsman negotiated dozens of free trade agreements, trade and investment framework agreements and brokered other bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade agreements for the United States with China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, India, Vietnam, West Africa, South Africa and other Asian and African nations. He played a critical role in launching global trade negotiations in Doha, Qatar in November of 2001, guiding the simultaneous accession of China and Taiwan into the World Trade Organization.
He is a founding director of the Pacific Council on International Policy
The Pacific Council on International Policy is a non-partisan organization headquartered in Los Angeles with members and activities throughout the West Coast of the United States and internationally. The Council is governed by a Board of Directors co-chaired by John E. Bryson, former Chairman and CEO of Edison International and Ambassador Robert H. Tuttle, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher is Chairman Emeritus, and Jerrold D. Green is the President and CEO of the Pacific Council. Founded in 1995 in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations, the Pacific Council is a 501c(3) not-profit organization whose work is made possible by financial contributions and in-kind support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other organizations. http://www.pacificcouncil.org/page.aspx?pid=373
and has served on various boards such as the Brookings Institute Asia Policy Board, the Center for Strategic and International Studies Pacific Forum, the Asia Society in New York and the National Bureau of Asian Research.
During his tenure as Governor, Utah was repeatedly recognized by many prestigious organizations for its dynamism, business climate and quality of life. Perhaps most importantly, Utah was named by the Pew Center as the Best Managed State in America. Even in times of economic hardship, Huntsman worked collaboratively with stakeholders to minimize impacts to critical human services while maintaining job-stimulating construction projects and keeping the State's Rainy Day Fund intact as a tool for any future fiscal distress.
Recognized nationally for his leadership, Huntsman served as chairman of the Western Governors Association and on the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association.
As a dedicated public servant, Huntsman is committed to serving in this critical post as Ambassador to one of the most important international relationships for the United States of America. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has four honorary doctorate degrees.
Huntsman supports civil unions
By McKay Coppins - 11 Feb 2009
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/71135
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman revealed Tuesday that he supports civil unions for gay couples, baffling many political pundits and prompting some to speculate he is planning a presidential run in 2012.
“He could have some kind of aspirations for higher office,” said Quin Monson, a professor of political science who closely follows state politics. “But as a Republican I’m not sure that’s a wise position to take.”
While campaigning for governor in 2004, Huntsman said he supported an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage and civil unions.
But on Tuesday, Lisa Roskelley, spokeswoman for the governor, said he is in favor of state legislation that would extend additional rights to gays, adding that “he supports civil unions.”
According to a recent Salt Lake Tribune poll, 70 percent of Utahns oppose civil unions, which would give gay and transgender couples many of the same legal rights as married couples. With such a strong majority of the electorate disagreeing with Huntsman’s newly-revealed position, Monson said the news was unexpected.
“It’s quite surprising, not only because it runs counter to public opinion in this state but also because it seems quite unlikely that he’s going to change anything within the legislature in terms of civil unions,” Monson said.