HUA HIN, Thailand — Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, served as a moderator during the 27th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference held Aug. 26–28 in Hua Hin, Thailand.

The conference, co-hosted by Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Gen. Songwit Noonpakdee, chief of defense forces for the Royal Thai Armed Forces, brought together more than 30 chiefs of defense and senior military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

This year’s theme, “Peace through Strength,” emphasized the importance of interoperability, trust, and collaboration among allies and partners in addressing shared regional challenges. The event included plenary sessions, senior enlisted leader programs, and bilateral and multilateral discussions on the margins of the conference.

Vares-Lum noted the significance of the Center’s alumni who now serve as leaders in their nations’ armed forces. Six of the participating chiefs of defense — representing the Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji — are graduates of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

“It was an honor to help guide these important discussions,” Vares-Lum said. “Seeing our alumni at the table as chiefs of defense is a true testament to the Center’s impact in developing leaders and fostering regional collaboration.”

Senior Enlisted Leaders (SELs) from 21 countries attended the program, with discussions focused on strengthening relationships to enhance interoperability and effectiveness, fostering trust and cooperation among participants to contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Of those, 15 are DKI APCSS alumni of the Senior Enlisted Leader Subject Matter Expert Exchange program.

The conference also featured the participation of Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, whose presence underscored the U.S. commitment to its Indo-Pacific partners.

Since 1998, the Chiefs of Defense Conference has provided senior military leaders a platform to exchange perspectives, strengthen interoperability, and enhance regional stability. Next year’s event will be held in Canada.

Participating in the CHOD Senior Enlisted Leader program were 15 DKI APCSS alumni. Pictured left to right: WO1 Stephen Rupapere, NZL, Deputy CSEL IPC; CSM Baasan Nyamaa, Mongolia, SEAC General Staff Mongolia Armed Forces; FCMS Feliciano Lazo, Philippines, SEAC; WO1 Rozain bin Haji Pungut, Brunei, Sergeant Major of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; CWO Chua Hock Guan, Singapore, SEAC; WO1 Sarah Cox, UK, SEAC; SGM (Ret) Anthony Spadaro, former USINDOPACOM SEL; SgtMaj Eric Cook, U.S., CSEL IPC; SEAC David Isom, U.S.; DKI APCSS Director Suzanne Vares-Lum; CWO Robert McCann, Canada, SEAC; WO1 Wiremu Moffitt, NZL, SEAC; SWO Samiuela Lolomanaia, Tonga, SEAC; TSE Segundo Caminada Medina, Peru, SEL Joint Command of the Armed Forces; WO1 Shahamrie Bin Abdullah, Sergeant Major of the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces; and WO1 Kenneth George Robertson, Australia, SEAC.