hdf 2026 Conference highlights

Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
HDF COnference day 1
12 JAN 2026

Kimberly Lehn, Senior Director, Honolulu Defense Forum, Pacific Forum
Welcome & Opening Remarks

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
Keynote Address

Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
Keynote Address

The Honorable Surangel Whipps Jr., President, Republic of Palau
CHAIR: Ralph Cossa, Chairman, Pacific Forum
Keynote Remarks

The Honorable Surangel Whipps Jr., President, Republic of Palau
Keynote Remarks

General Stephen Whiting, Commander, U.S. Space Command
Spotlight Discussion

General Stephen Whiting, Commander, U.S. Space Command
CHAIR: The Honorable Kari Bingen, Director of Aerospace Security Project, CSIS &
former Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
Spotlight Discussion

The Honorable George E. Glass, U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Introductory Remarks

Minister Shinjirō Koizumi, Minister of Defense of Japan
Keynote Address
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HDF COnference day 2
13 JAN 2026

General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Admiral Samuel Paparo, USN, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
General Hiroaki Uchikura, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan Self-Defense Forces
CHAIR: Major General (Ret.) Suzy Vares-Lum, Director,
Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
Challenges & Opportunities in the Indo-Pacific

Challenges & Opportunities in the Indo-Pacific

The Honorable Mike Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial
Base Policy, U.S. Department of War
Remarks

The Honorable Mike Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial
Base Policy, U.S. Department of War
CHAIR: Dr. John Hemmings, Senior Advisor, Pacific Forum
Remarks

The Honorable Josh Green, M.D., Governor, State of Hawaii
The Honorable Michael DeSombre, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, U.S. Department of
State
The Honorable S. Paul Kapur, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central
Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Harry Harris, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
and Admiral (Ret.), USN, 24th Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
CHAIR: Eric Sayers, Board Member, Pacific Forum
Fireside Chat

The Honorable Josh Green, M.D., Governor, State of Hawaii
The Honorable Michael DeSombre, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand,
U.S. Department of State
Fireside Chat
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Closing remarks

Ralph Cossa, Chairman, Pacific Forum
Closing Remarks and Final Reflections

Kimberly Lehn, Senior Director, Honolulu Defense Forum, Pacific Forum
Closing Remarks and Final Reflections
