National Guard Bureau Chief in Hawaii to discuss status of State Partnership Program in Pacific

WHEN:                   Thursday, January 24, 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

WHAT:                    Press Conference- Pacific State Partnership Program Workshop 

WHO:                     National Guard Bureau Chief, Lieutenant General H Steven Blum; Hawaii Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee 

WHERE:                Kahili Suite, 2nd Floor, Kalia Tower, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii

The National Guard Bureau (NGB) Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate and the Hawaii National Guard are co-sponsoring the Pacific State Partnership Program (SPP) Workshop at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel from January 22-24, 2008. This specific workshop focuses on the Pacific Area of Operations and includes Adjutant Generals from Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Virginia; Chiefs of Defense from Mongolia, Thailand, Indonesiaand the Philippines; Embassy representatives; Country Team representatives; and Commanders and staff from Pacific Command (PACOM).

The value of the SPP lies in its enduring ability to dedicate a specific component of the U.S. defense structure- a state's National Guard (Army and Air components)- to a single country for mutually beneficial security goals.

Participating states and their international partners participate in a broad range of strategic security cooperation activities to include military transformation and homeland defense/security, disaster response/mitigation, consequence/crisis management, interagency cooperation, border/port/aviation security, medical, fellowship-style internships, and bilateral familiarization events that lead to training and exercise opportunities.

Lt. Gen. Blum and Maj. Gen. Lee will be available for questions on Jan. 24th, from 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.  Please contact the PAO listed below to RSVP or for more information.

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For more information, contact:

Public Affairs Officer

Office: (808) 733-4258