WASHINGTON — After an eight-year hiatus, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) returned to the nation’s capital to host the Mobile Indo-Pacific Orientation Course (MIPOC) from March 24 to 28, 2025.

The event, the largest MIPOC to date, brought together 116 fellows from agencies including the Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security. Among them were 20 international participants representing 12 countries.

With the new administration prioritizing Indo-Pacific policy, hosting the course in Washington, DC, provided fellows with deeper insight into the complexities of the region. Topics covered included U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific, strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region, deterrence, allies and partners, maritime security, the defense industrial base, domains of consequence including space policy, irregular warfare, disruptive technology, and multiple elective offerings.

“This was an amazing opportunity to learn about the Indo-Pacific theater from regional experts and a knowledgeable cohort of fellows from across the interagency, our allies, and our partners,” one participant said. Dean Carleton Cramer noted that the significant representation of the broader inter-agency from the national capital region enabled in-depth, policy-relevant discussions.

DKI APCSS Director Suzy Vares-Lum highlighted the course’s significance, stating, “Demand is high for understanding the security challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific. Our amazing staff, fellows, speakers, and alumni, all committed to finding solutions, dedicated their energy this week.”

She emphasized the region’s strategic importance, noting, “The Indo-Pacific is the most consequential region, spanning 36 nations, 14 time zones, and home to 60% of the world’s population. It is where complex threats and strategic competition converge. The Mobile Indo-Pacific Orientation Course empowers U.S. security practitioners, military, allies, and partners to address these challenges.”

The next Indo-Pacific Orientation Course will be held in Honolulu in October, with details on the next mobile course to be announced later this year.

For more information, visit https://dkiapcss.edu/courses/