Roos, John V. (John Victor), 1955-

<p>John Victor Roos (born February 14, 1955) is a former United States Ambassador to Japan and is the Founding Partner, Geodesic Capital. Before accepting the ambassadorship from President Barack Obama, Roos was the CEO of Silicon Valley-based law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.</p>

<p>Roos was hired by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in 1985, having previously worked for O'Melveny & Myers in the early 1980s. The company caught the tech startup wave and over the next 25 years became the premier legal firm in the Valley, growing from 50 employees to more than 1,500 worldwide.</p>

<p>While building his legal career, Roos participated in political activities and community service. He ran for and won a seat on the San Mateo-Foster City School District Board of Trustees in 1991 and again in 1995. He also served in various capacities at both Stanford University, where he served on the School of Education's Dean's Advisory Board and Stanford Law School—including as a member of the law school's Dean's Advisory Council. He was also elected to membership in the Stanford Associates for his long-standing volunteer service to the University. Roos also served as an honorary captain—alongside John Elway— for Stanford before the Cardinals' victory in the January 2011 Orange Bowl.</p>

<p>In May 2009 Obama named Roos to replace the departing Tom Schieffer as United States Ambassador to Japan. On August 7, 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed Roos by unanimous consent. On August 16, 2009, Roos was formally sworn in as the new ambassador. Three days later he and his family arrived in Japan and on August 20 he presented his credentials to Emperor Akihito.</p>

<p>Ambassador Roos' tenure in Japan coincided with a historic period in U.S.-Japan relations. Shortly after his arrival, the Democratic Party of Japan assumed power, the first real party transition in the Japanese government in 50 years. Roos played a key role in managing the relationship through that transition, as well as President Obama's rebalance to Asia, placing even more importance on the U.S.-Japan Alliance as the cornerstone of peace and security in the region. In addition to addressing the security, economic, and global challenges that Japan and the United States face, Roos provided a specific focus on areas of cooperation that include people to people connections, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and trade issues, including Japan's interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He also worked closely with Japan on issues related to the Hague Convention and handling of International Parent-Child Abduction cases, ultimately resulting in Japan's joining in 2014. During his time in Japan, Ambassador Roos built relationships and established a rich and active dialogue with government leaders, business leaders, media and students over the course of his travels across all 47 of Japan's prefectures.</p>

<p>Following the devastating 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis on March 11, 2011, Ambassador Roos led the American mission to support Japan's response to the multi-dimensional and unprecedented disaster. He made his first visit to Ishinomaki, one of the coast towns heavily damaged by the huge tsunami, just 12 days after the catastrophe, a visit he described as, "one of the most moving events of my life." Roos led the coordination of American relief efforts in what he called "the world's first megadisaster." An hour after the earthquake, Roos declared an emergency and cleared the way for Operation Tomodachi—which means "friend" in Japanese—a massive relief operation. Nearly 200 U.S. military ships and aircraft transported food, clothing, and supplies to those left homeless. He also led the U.S. Embassy's response to the nuclear crisis that ensued when a 50-foot wave hit the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The disaster was intensified by the limited information available during its initial hours. Roos led the U.S. government's communication, and he used his Twitter feed to assure that the 155,000 Americans living in Japan received timely information about the disaster. Japanese public support of the United States reached historic highs (85% favorability) in the wake of the U.S. response to the disaster.</p>

<p>Roos also led the creation of the TOMODACHI Initiative in the wake of the U.S. relief efforts, after traveling throughout the Tohoku region that had been hit by the earthquake and tsunami and hearing from the mayor of one hard hit town, Rikuzentakata, that what the United States could really do to help recovery was "give hope to our young people." From this suggestion, the Ambassador launched the TOMODACHI Initiative. The initiative is a public-private partnership with the U.S.-Japan Council, a Washington DC based organization, to invest in Japan's next generation of leaders. The Initiative represents a path-breaking paradigm in U.S. public diplomacy, in which government joins forces with private enterprises and organizations to achieve mutually beneficial, strategic goals. TOMODACHI provides young Japanese and Americans with opportunities to study, live, and work in each other's countries, thereby ensuring a thriving bilateral partnership into the foreseeable future. Roos marshaled assistance from a large number of high-profile celebrities to support the cause, including Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Cal Ripken, and will.i.am. Roos also has leveraged his popular Twitter account (over 55,000 followers, making him the most-followed U.S. Ambassador anywhere outside the United States at the time) to share information and generate excitement. As of the end of 2016, TOMODACHI has impacted the lives of more than 5,700 young people in the United States and Japan through cultural exchanges and leadership training. In 2016 alone, more than 1,000 people participated in 47 programs. More than 36,000 people have been involved in TOMODACHI programs and events in the United States and Japan. Roos remains active supporting TOMODACHI even following his Ambassadorship.</p>

<p>In August 2013, Roos' term concluded. He was replaced by Caroline Kennedy.</p>

<p>John Roos served as United States Ambassador to Japan from 2009-2013. In August 2010, he became the first sitting U.S. Ambassador ever to attend the commemoration ceremony of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.</p>

<p>Ambassador Roos’ service in Tokyo coincided with the devastating 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis on March 11, 2011, when he led the American effort on the ground in support of Japan’s response to the disaster. In October 2011, citing his tireless and effective leadership during and after the disasters, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton awarded Ambassador Roos the prestigious Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service. In September 2014, Ambassador Roos was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus citing his “relentless efforts to forge a deeper bilateral security relationship between Japan and the United States,” and his “dynamic and steadfast leadership during Operation Tomodachi,” the U.S. military’s humanitarian response mission.</p>

<p>Ambassador Roos also led the creation of the TOMODACHI Initiative that followed U.S. disaster relief efforts. TOMODACHI is a public-private partnership designed to invest in Japan’s next generation of leaders and connect them to the United States. Ambassador Roos is a founding partner of Geodesic Capital, a growth stage venture capital firm, and a Senior Advisor at Centerview Partners, a preeminent mergers and acquisitions advisory firm. In addition to serving on the Mansfield Foundation’s Board of Directors, he is a member of the Board of Directors at Salesforce.com and at Sony Corporation and a member of the Global Advisory Board of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Previously, Ambassador Roos served as Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner at Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich, & Rosati.</p>

<p>Ambassador Roos is a graduate with honors and distinction from Stanford University and from Stanford Law School, where he was Order of the Coif.</p>