Tan Sun Chen

陳唐山

Serving as a chairman of The Prospect Foundation, Dr. Chen spent most of his life in active politics and dedicated his work to spread the international profile of Taiwan. Before returning to Taiwan after the martial law has been lifted, he worked for U.S. Department of Commerce.
‍
Born in Tainan, Taiwan, Dr. Chen came to Purdue and earned his doctorate in earth and atmospheric science in 1972 after receiving a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1966 and a bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University in 1957.
‍
Dr. Chen started his government work in the United States, serving from 1973 through 1992 in the U.S. Department of Commerce. He was elected chairman of the Taiwanese Association of America, chairman of the World Federation of Taiwanese Association, chairman of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs and was chosen Outstanding Asian Community Leader in the United States in 1990.
‍
In 1992, he returned to Taiwan and became a member of the Legislative Yuan (congress). A year later, he was elected Tainan County Magistrate and re-elected to the same position in 1997.
‍
As a leader and visionary in promoting science as a key component of regional and national development, Dr. Chen played a major role in 1995 in the establishment of the Southern Taiwan Science Park, which grew rapidly and has played a pivotal role in high-tech industrial development in the Asia-Pacific region.
‍
In 2001, he was again elected as a member of the fifth Legislative Yuan and three years later, he was then appointed foreign minister in April 2004 and Secretary General, Office of the President in January 2006, and he was appointed Secretary General, the National Security Council in 2007.
‍
From 2016, Dr. Chen is the chairman of The Prospect Foundation.

Education
Background

• Honorary Doctorate, Purdue University, USA
• Ph.D., Earth and Atmospheric Science, Purdue University, U.S.A., 1972
• M.S., Atmospheric Physics, Oklahoma University, U.S.A., 1966
• B.S. Atmospheric Science, National Taiwan University, 1957

Work Experience +
Achievements

• Legislator, Legislative Yuan (Feb, 2012 to Feb, 2016)
• Chair Professor, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (2008-2011）
• Professor Emeritus, Chang Jung Christian University (2008-2011）
• Secretary General, the National Security Council (Feb, 2007 to May 2008)
• Secretary General, Office of the President (Jan. 2006 to Feb. 2007)
• Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Apr. 2004 to Jan. 2006)
• Legislator, Legislative Yuan (2001-2004)
• Magistrate, Tainan County (1993-2001)
• Legislator, Legislative Yuan (1992)
• Officer, Department of Commerce, U.S. Federal Government (1973-1992)
• Chairman, Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) (1982)
• Chairman, World Federation of Taiwanese Associations (1979)
• Chairman, Taiwanese Association of America (1979)
• Postdoctoral teaching fellow, Colorado State University (1973)