Board of Directors
Randolph Martin (Chair), International consultant; former Director of Global Emergency Operations, Mercy Corps
Dr. Charles Aanenson, Founding CEO, Peace Winds America, former Foreign Service/USAID
James Gannon, Acting CEO, Peace Winds America; Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA)
Dr. Michael Green, CEO, U.S. Studies Centre, University of Sydney; former Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs & Senior Director for Asia, U.S. National Security Council
Lt. Gen Wallace “Chip” Gregson, President W.C. Gregson Associates; former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense; former Commanding General, Marine Corps Forces Pacific & Marine Corps Forces Central Command
Hon. Mazie Hirono, Member, U.S. Senate
Amb. Thomas Hubbard, Senior Director, McLarty Associates; former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines
Dr. Mignon Mazique, Leadership Consultant; former Chief People Officer, Mercy Corps
Hon. Akihisa Nagashima, Member, House of Representatives of Japan; former Senior Vice Minister of Defense
Kensuke Onishi, CEO, Peace Winds Japan/Civic Force
Rika Yamamoto, Director of Overseas Operations, Peace Winds Japan
Lt. Gen. Noboru Yamaguchi, Professor, International University of Japan; former Lieutenant General, Ground Self Defense Forces of Japan
Hon. Shunji Yanai, former Judge, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; former Japanese Ambassador to the United States
Staff
James Gannon | Chief Executive Officer (Acting)
A long-time leader in the US-Japan nonprofit sector, Jim joined Peace Winds America in December 2023 in an interim capacity. He is also a senior fellow at the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA), which he headed for two decades, creating and leading a wide range of initiatives to strengthen US-Japan relations and encourage deeper international cooperation on humanitarian assistance, global health, and democracy support. He has also served as executive director for the US JET Program Alumni Association (USJETAA), and has written extensively on US-Asia relations, global health, development, and civil society.
Patrick Hurley | Program Manager
Patrick is an attorney and graduated with honors from The George Washington University Law School, where he focused on international human rights law. He has worked internationally with various Human Rights NGOs as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Southeast Asia. He has also worked and trained in the field of emergency management with FEMA and the American Red Cross.
Belma Sisic | Chief of Party
Ms. Sisic, Peace Winds’ Chief of Party in Iraq, brings 17 years of experience managing and implementing government and NGO programs in low resourced countries. She has spent more than six years advising marginalized communities, such as women and youth, to advocate for themselves, including empowering female political candidates to take part in local politics. Following the IDP/refugee crisis in Iraq, Ms. Sisic joined Free Yezidi Foundation as Operations Director, and later as Chief of Party for Peace Winds America leading program operations in six refugee camps within Northern Iraq.
Sarah Maraschky | Communications Associate
smaraschky@peacewindsamerica.org
Sarah joined Peace Winds America as Communications Associate in 2021. She graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. in 2020 with a B.A. in Public Relations and Spanish and a minor in Japanese. In her communications role with Peace Winds, Sarah is enjoying learning more about the nonprofit sector and using her communications skills to raise awareness about PWA’s amazing programs through creative channels such as social media posts, newsletters, and videos.
Organizational Chart
