Elias Camsek Chin

Elias Camsek Chin (: born 11 October 1948) is a Palauan politician. He served as the Vice President of Palau from 1 January 2005 to 15 January 2009. He was elected as the president of the Senate of Palau from 16 January 2013 to 19 January 2017.

Early life Elias Camsek Chin was born in Peleliu, Palau, on October 11, 1948. His father, Taktai Chin, was the son of a Chinese miner at Angaur and a Palauan mother, and became Palau's first doctor. His mother, Takeko Chin (née Kuratomi) was of Japanese heritage.

As a youth, Camsek attended Farrington High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. While attending University of Hawaii, Camsek met Miriam Rudimch. Camsek learned that Miriam was a tennis player and, in an attempt to impress Ms. Rudimch, decided to take on the sport (even though he initially found the sport to be boring and preferred to spend his days surfing Hawaii 's famous breaks). This time, however, Cowboy was picked first: Miriam Rudimch and Camsek Chin married on May 21, 1977.

Elias Camsek Chin attended the Electronic Institute of Hawaii, graduating with an AA degree in electronics engineering technology. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he also completed the Reserve Officer Training Corps Curriculum and Education course of Study. In 1975 Second Lieutenant Chin was commissioned in the Armor Corps of the U.S. Army. He later branch transferred to Aviation Corps and spent over 20 years as a U.S. Army combat aviator.

Military career

Lieutenant Colonel Chin is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Course, United States Army Flight School, Air Ground Operations School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College with emphasis on international relations. He is also a graduate of U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S. Army Ranger School, U.S. Army Motor Officer School, and the U.S. Army Computer School.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merits, the Meritorious Service Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Army Master Aviator Badge and the Ranger Tab.

Upon Lieutenant Colonel Chin's retirement from the U.S. Army in 1997, President Kuniwo Nakamura nominated him to the position of Minister of Justice. The Fifth Olbiil Era Kelulau unanimously approved.

Family life

Chin and his wife, Miriam, have two children, Lalii Antolina, an attorney, and Nathan Lee Beches, a University of Washington graduate and medical school applicant.