Anti-corruption specialist receives Harvard award
MANILA, Philippines - Filipino lawyer and anti-corruption specialist Gerard Mosquera received the 2010 Lucius N. Littauer Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in ceremonies held on May 25. The award is the highest recognition granted by the Harvard Kennedy School for exemplary academic achievement, public service and leadership.
Mosquera graduated with a master’s in public administration degree and earned a place in the top five percent of Harvard Kennedy School’s Class of 2010, comprised of approximately 577 students, representing 80 countries. The Harvard Kennedy School is considered the leading institution for specialized training for leaders in the government service and in advancing the public interest, not only in the US but across the globe.
Most of Mosquera’s professional life has been focused on anti-corruption work. He is currently the chief of party of USAID’s anti-corruption program in Timor-Leste, a position he has held since 2005. He also served as technical adviser for anti-corruption to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor. In the Philippines, he briefly served as director in the Office of the Ombudsman.
“I plan to continue to do work that will help fight corruption, promote transparency and accountability, and improve governance, either in government or as an active member of the civil society,” Mosquera said.
He is a bar topnotcher, placing second in the 1992 bar examinations, holds a masters of law degree from Kings College London and graduated with honors from the Ateneo School of Law. A native of General Santos City, Mosquera once served as chapter president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for General Santos City and the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani. Mosquera is married to Myra Nissa Pahm-Mosquera, a dentist, with whom he has four children.
