Chris Kanazawa

President Biden announced the appointment of Chris J, Kanazawa as the USDA Rural Development State Director in February 2022. Mr. Kanazawa served in the same capacity under the Obama Administration in 2010- 2016. 

Prior to federal government service, having over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, Kanazawa has extensive knowledge of planning, land use entitlement, and development of residential, commercial, industrial, resort, and golf course real estate projects. He previously held positions as President of the Land Division for Amfac/JMB Hawaii, and upon leaving the real estate industry, Kanazawa was named President and CEO of Parker Ranch, Inc. in Waimea, Hawaii, the fifth largest cattle ranch in the United States with landholdings of over 133,000 acres. 

During Kanazawa's tenure as Rural Development State Director under the Obama Administration, under his leadership, the Hawaii State Office provided over $2.5 billion in loans and grants to assist residential, commercial, public infrastructure, renewable energy, utility, and agriculture projects. His region of responsibility covered over 4.3 million square miles across the Pacific and included Hawaii, Guam, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, and The Republic of Palau. 

Kanazawa is a resident of Honolulu and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa as well as a Master of Business Administration degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.