KAI’s President and CEO, Bel Leong-Hong, was interviewed by NBC 4 Washington as part of a series highlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders for “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month”. In a wide-ranging interview, Ms. Leong-Hong discussed the challenges and opportunities facing Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPIs).

“My particular interest is in helping young people succeed in their careers," said Ms. Leong-Hong. "What I’ve noticed in my years, both in government as well as in working through the community, is that Asian-Americans are ‘the model minority’; however, we face what they call the ‘Bamboo Ceiling’. We can go to a certain level, and then there are all sorts of obstacles. I needed to help people like my daughter, and her generation, and the generations to come, to have a seat at the table”.

A successful business executive who previously held the position of U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence, as well as a number of other high-ranking positions in government, Ms. Leong-Hong shares her experience and insights through a broad range of community groups, including the Maryland’s Governor’s Workforce Investment Board (GWIB); the Cyber Security Work Force Committee for GWIB (Co-Chair); the University of Maryland Medical Systems Corporate Board; the Federal Facility Advisory Board; the Military Academy Admission Review Board; and the Board of Visitors of the DOD's National Defense University. Ms. Leong-Hong is also a founding member of the Asian American Government Executive Network (AAGEN) Board of Directors, and is a member of the board of directors of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA).