WASHINGTON — Shin Inouye, director of specialty media, was among the White House staff members announced by President Barack Obama on Feb. 23.

“Each of these individuals brings deep expertise in their fields, and a strong commitment to public service,” Obama said. “I am confident in their abilities to fill these roles with distinction, and I welcome them to our team as we begin the work of bringing the change that the American people need in these troubled times.”

Inouye was most recently a spokesperson for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Prior to that, he was the constituency communications coordinator for the Obama for America campaign.

In that capacity, he served as the communications officer for a variety of campaign constituency groups, including: LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender), AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders), First Americans, veterans and military families, youth, seniors, faith, Jewish, rural and sportsmen, Americans with disabilities, and ethnic.

Before the campaign, Inouye was the communications director for Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. As a member of the congressman’s senior staff, Inouye served as an official spokesperson.

Prior to that, Inouye was the senior legislative communications associate at the Washington Legislative Office of the American Civil Liberties Union. During his tenure at the ACLU, he played a key role in its “Keep America Safe and Free” campaign.

Born in New York, Inouye spent six years in Tokyo and graduated with a degree in political science and departmental honors from Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of the Japanese American Citizens League and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

In an interview posted on the University of Chicago’s Chicago Studies website, Inouye discussed the controversial decision to have evangelical pastor Rick Warren, who opposes same-sex marriage, give the invocation at Obama’s inauguration.

“On some issues he agrees with him, and others he does not,” said Inouye, noting that the issues Warren and Obama agree on include a responsibility toward global HIV/AIDS and deceasing poverty. Warren’s participation showed that Obama was “committed to inaugural events celebrating common values and inclusivity,” Inouye said.

He pointed out that the inauguration parade featured, for the first time, an openly LGBT group.