The Senior Enlisted Leaders Symposium Indo-Pacific (SELSIP) 25-1, co-hosted by the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, brought together 50 senior enlisted leaders from 12 partner nations, five U.S. combatant commands, and all U.S. military services. Over three days of discussion and collaboration, participants shared enlisted development strategies, built lasting regional ties, and strengthened the foundation for future cooperation.

DKI APCSS Director Suzy Vares-Lum presents the Laulima Alumni Certificate of Distinction to SEAC David Isom, whose visionary leadership was instrumental in conceptualizing, advancing, and institutionalizing senior enlisted education and engagement across the region.

Midway through the event, Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said: “This event, coupled with IPSEL SMEE, is making the region’s NCO corps more committed and more lethal than ever before.” His remarks underscored the growing strategic importance of senior enlisted leadership as a pillar of regional interoperability and resilience.

The symposium concluded with the bestowal of DKI APCSS alumni status upon all participants and the presentation of the Laulima Alumni Certificate of Distinction to SEAC David Isom, whose leadership was instrumental in conceptualizing, advancing, and institutionalizing senior enlisted education and engagement across the region. SELSIP 2025 was not just an event — it was a strategic investment in the region’s most trusted leaders and a milestone in shaping the future of multinational enlisted cooperation.