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DKI APCSS Monthly Newsletter
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May 2026
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Allies and Partners
 Multinational Armaments Resilience Seminar (MARS) 2026 – Module 1 Complete
In early May, MARS Fellows, leaders from government and industry representing the U.S. and its key allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions—spent the week confronting Defense Industrial Base (DIB) challenges and developing solutions together. Over six days, Fellows engaged directly with U.S. defense leaders, organic DIB facilities, premier defense manufacturers, and emerging, innovative companies across Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The message was clear: strengthening industrial resilience, accelerating innovation, and expanding allied participation to increase capacity are critical to deterrence and regional security. No nation can meet these challenges alone. Through MARS, DKI APCSS builds partnerships, networks, and the shared understanding needed to strengthen deterrence and address the Indo-Pacific’s toughest DIB challenges—together. Next stop: Australia!
Learn More
Readiness
 DKI APCSS kicks off Comprehensive Security Cooperation course (CSC 26-2 )
From Marshall Islands to Malaysia! From Tonga to Thailand! On May 6th, DKI APCSS welcomed 142 participants from around the globe to our Comprehensive Security Course, CSC 26-2. This five-week, in-residence executive program for mid-level military, government, and non-government professionals in the security sphere, works toward developing resilient solutions to pressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
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Indo-Pacific Security Forum - “International Partnerships: From Cooperation to Seamless Integration”
DKI APCSS Director Suzanne Vares-Lum participated in a panel on "“International Partnerships: From Cooperation to Seamless Integration” at the Security & Defence PLuS Indo-Pacific Security Forum 2026 on May 11, 2026. Also, on the panel, moderated by ASU Professor Ryan Shaw, were USINDOPACOM Deputy J5 Commodore Jonathan Lett (Royal Navy), Australian Consul-General in Honolulu Greg Wilcock, and U.S. Department of State AUKUS Liaison Adam Korzeniewski.
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LANPAC26 - Education, Training and Experience
On May 12, 2026, Senior military leaders and defense experts gathered during the Land Forces Pacific (LANPAC) Symposium and Exposition panel, “Education, Training and Experience: Optimizing People and Performance,” to discuss how the Army and its allies are preparing leaders and formations for increasingly complex operational environments across the Indo-Pacific region. DKI APCSS Director Suzanne Vares-Lum participated in a panel on "Educating, Training & Experiencing: Optimizing People and Performance.” The panel was moderated by retired Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson, Vice President of Government Solutions and Strategy at General Motors Defense. Other panelists were Maj. Gen. Hope Rampy, commanding general of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Maj. Gen. Michelle Link, commanding general of the 75th U.S. Army Reserve Innovation Command, and Lt. Gen. Shigeo Kaida of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Training, Evaluation, Education, Research and Development Command in attendance. Leaders emphasized the importance of leader development, innovation, multinational collaboration, and adaptive training to maintain readiness and deterrence throughout the region. Learn more
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New Book: American’s Strategic Edge
DKI APCSS is proud to announce the release of our latest publication “America’s Strategic Edge: Deterrence, Lethality, and Warrior Ethos in the Indo-Pacific.” Edited by Dr. James M. Minnich, this is the second book in the Strategic Edge series. The book explores how the U.S. can sustain leadership and security in the Indo-Pacific through deterrence, advanced capabilities, and the enduring strength of its people.
Download the book today!
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DKI APCSS leadership participated in the annual Regional Center Oversight and Advocacy Board (RCOAB) on 6 May, which included PTDO ASW for Strategy, Plans, Forces Rafael Leonardo; DASW for Security Cooperation Chris Mamaux, Acting DASW for South and Southeast Asia Lori Abele; Brig Gen Sarah Russ, INDOPACOM J5MA; Mr. Dave Jensen, INDOPACOM J55; Directors for ACSS, GCMC, NESA, Ted Stevens Center, and WJPC. The RCOAB focused on Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Program Plans and Activities and the role Regional Centers play in amplifying National Defense Strategy objectives, especially partner burden-sharing. DKI APCSS presented its FY27-28 program plan and highlighted the results of key initiatives supporting the NDS, such as the Multinational Armaments Resilience Seminar (MARS) that directly supports supercharging the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. |
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 SGM Daryl Plude, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Defense Security Cooperation Agency and CMSgt Mikael Sundin, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director, DSCA
 Vice Adm. Heidi Berg, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. Tenth Fleet
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Director’s visit to the Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA)
Director speaks at the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2026
DKI APCSS leadership meets with U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary, the Honorable Paul M. Dabbar (Washington, D.C.)
The Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (MARS keynote speaker)
Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe, Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force, and Hawaii’s Honorary Consul General for Sri Lanka, Asoka Silva
Major General Giles Cornelia, Deputy Commanding General, Strategy & Policy
Brigadier General Gabriel Soubrier, Commander, French Forces New Caledonia
Brigadier General Hanok Moon, 2nd Infantry Division, ROK-U.S. Combined Division
Manabu Makyurei, President, National Institute for Defense Studies
Group Captain Darrell May, Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Force Indo-Pacific (CSC course speaker, May 28)
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Upcoming Courses
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Multinational Armaments Resilience Seminar (MARS) 2026
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Module 2: 8-13 June in Australia: Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne
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Module 3: 6-11 September in South Korea: Seoul
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Module 4: 1-6 November in Honolulu, Hawaii
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Comprehensive Security Cooperation (CSC)
CSC 26-3: 12 Aug – 16 September 2026
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Transnational Security Cooperation (TSC 26-1): 12 – 17 July 2026
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Indo-Pacific Senior Enlisted Leader Subject Matter Expert Exchange (IPSEL SMEE): 22-27 June 2026 (Brunei)
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Alumni Day in the Philippines.
The program included plenary presentations, seminars, and a keynote on malign influence operations against open societies. Alumni panels discussed current security challenges and future scenarios for the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific region. Watch the video
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