Dr. Michael Yates became the new mission director for USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) in Bangkok in May 2011.  In this capacity, he oversees regional programs in health, environment, economic growth and governance in South and Southeast Asia, as well as USAID’s other development assistance programs in China, Burma, Laos, Papua New Guinea and Thailand. 

Mike joined USAID in 1987 and is a Career Minister in the U.S. Government Foreign Service.  Prior to assuming his position at USAID/RDMA he was the Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade (EGAT).  He has previously served as Mission Director in Afghanistan (2008-09), Bolivia (2005-08) and the Philippines (2002-05).  Prior to joining USAID he spent six years in Haiti and carried out field research in rural Paraguay.  He holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Columbia University, New York.