U.S. Army Pacific Commanding General Gen. Ronald P. Clark

Retired Rear Adm. Michael Studeman

Special Operations Command Pacific Commander Maj. Gen. Jeffrey A. VanAntwerp

HONOLULU — As the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies marks its 30th anniversary, 113 Fellows from 37 locations around the globe graduated today from the Center’s Comprehensive Security Cooperation course (CSC 25-3), completing five weeks of study focused on building trust and strengthening security ties in the Indo-Pacific.

The program is designed to foster professional and personal relationships among security practitioners while providing in-depth study on key regional challenges. This iteration of the course offered three concentrations: Irregular Warfare, Navigating China’s Influence, and Deterrence with Allies and Partners.

Throughout the course, Fellows heard from senior leaders and subject-matter experts on the importance of security cooperation and deterrence. U.S. Army Pacific Commanding General Gen. Ronald P. Clark addressed the group Aug. 15, emphasizing the value of partnerships, character in leadership and deterrence as a guiding principle. Retired Rear Adm. Michael Studeman spoke Aug. 22 on China’s strategic ambitions and the evolving global order, while Maj. Gen. Jeffrey A. VanAntwerp, commander of Special Operations Command Pacific, outlined the role of special operations forces on Aug. 25.

In addition to classroom discussions and electives on topics such as cyber warfare, economic statecraft and maritime security, Fellows participated in field studies, including visits to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, the U.S. Coast Guard headquarters at Sand Island and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Center of Excellence. At DPAA, Fellows saw firsthand how collaboration and scientific innovation help account for U.S. personnel missing from past conflicts.

The course also coincided with DKI APCSS’s 30th anniversary on Sept. 4. Fellows joined faculty, alumni and mission partners in celebrating the milestone with Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who delivered a strategic overview briefing and took part in a traditional cake-cutting ceremony alongside DKI APCSS Director Suzanne Vares-Lum, APCSS Foundation President Gerald Sumida and plankholder Lenore Patton.

CSC 25-3 concluded with an all-day, immersive, team-based exercise involving a complex crisis scenario in the region, underscoring the course’s emphasis on critical thinking, dialogue and collaboration.

During graduation, Mr. Batbold Maruush of Mongolia delivered remarks as the commencement speaker on behalf of the Fellows, while the Outstanding Fellows Project Proposal Award was presented to Colonel Ahmed Mujuthaba Mohamed of the Maldives.. “The Fellows Projects are such an important part of our programs here”, explained Dr. Sam Mullins, one of the CSC Course Managers. “The course itself is designed to maximize both the learning experience, and the building of relationships while the Fellows are here. But then after they go back home, they’re still expected to complete their Fellows Project, and so this is a way of taking everything that they learn in the course, and applying that to real-world security problems. So, there’s a real impact on security in the region.”

“This course directly supports Department of War priorities by strengthening deterrence, deepening alliances and partnerships, and fostering solutions across the Indo-Pacific,” said DKI APCSS Director Suzanne Vares-Lum. “Our Fellows leave here with the shared understanding and trusted relationships needed to tackle complex security challenges together.”

Graduates now join a growing network of DKI APCSS alumni committed to advancing security and cooperation across the region.