NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) Robert Eldridge, an associate professor at Osaka University and expert on Japan-U.S. relations, will be appointed deputy head of the diplomatic policy department of the U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa, it was learned Sunday.
Eldridge left the university Sunday and will be appointed to his new position Monday.
Born in New Jersey, the 41-year-old Eldridge has published a number of books in Japanese, including "The Origins of the Bilateral Okinawa Problem."