Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. - Michael Jordan Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes. - Peter Drucker

1. TO ME, LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT NECESSARILY BEING THE LOUDEST IN THE ROOM,
BUT INSTEAD BEING THE BRIDGE, OR THE THING THAT IS MISSING IN THE
DISCUSSION AND TRYING TO BUILD A CONSENSUS FROM THERE
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern
The Civil Beat Editorial Board Interview: US Sen. Mazie Hirono
June 17, 2021
<https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/06/the-civil-beat-editorial-board-interview-us-sen-mazie-hirono/>
Civil Beat: The Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii — once again, it is not in the Pentagon's budget
request. Are you seeking to pursue getting it funded again?
Senator Hirono: I have asked (Defense) Secretary (Lloyd) Austin and others to provide me with a
good explanation of why this radar that was deemed necessary for the protection of Hawaii as well
as part of our national security defense system, our missile defense system, why all of a sudden it's
not deemed necessary. So far, I haven't been provided that kind of justification. I have been told by
them that Hawaii is protected today, but this radar is for the protection of Hawaii in the future. My
request to them is tell me how Hawaii is going to be protected in 2025, which is the kind of time
frame that justified the original radar. I'm waiting for that. And I have told them that if that doesn't
come forward, if they don’t have some other way that Hawaii will remain protected, then I'm going
to push for the funding that is necessary to keep this issue, HDR-H, going.
Civil Beat: With you heading the Seapower Committee, I'm curious about your thoughts on the
upcoming budget for the Pentagon. We've been saying that China is the facing threat, but the latest
budget shows that they're intending the Navy to actually shrink rather than grow while the Chinese
Navy is expanding its fleet.
Senator Hirono: We are going to need to deal with China by making sure that the assets, all the
ships and the planes and all of the assets that we have, are superior to what the Chinese have.
DOD Histrionics
“The Indo-Pacific remains the most consequential region for America's future. The U.S. National
Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Indo-Pacific Strategy underscore the
importance of this region to America's continued stability, security, and prosperity.
“While most of the attention on the long-term strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific has
focused on the South China Sea, China is also competing to replace the United States and its
allies as the partner of choice throughout the Pacific. The United States is redoubling its
commitments to allies and partners through-out Oceania to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific
in which all nations, regardless of size, are able to exercise their sovereignty and reinforce the
rules-based international order.
“The Indo-Pacific Strategy provides a framework to enable the whole of government to sharpen
its focus on the three key pillars of economics, governance, and security.

2. “Oceania connects the United States to the Indo-Pacific region culturally, historically, and
geographically. Its strategic lines of communication are vital to securing a free and open Indo-
Pacific, home to the first, second, and third island chains, bridging the geographic gap between
Asia and the Americas. The island chain strategy, first discussed by Secretary of State John
Foster Dulles, depicted U.S. security arrangements at the time.
“The first island chain stretches from Japan past Taiwan along the northwest of the Philippines
and Borneo and curls up to the southern tip of Vietnam.
“The second island chain stretches from Japan through the Marianas Islands to the Federated
States of Micronesia. The third chain stretches from the U.S. Aleutian islands through the
Hawaiian Islands to the northern tip of New Zealand.
“Oceania includes the U.S. State of Hawaii, the territories of Guam and American Samoa, the
commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands comprised of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, and
three Compact of Free Association (COFA) countries. COFA is an international agreement that
established and governs the relationships of free association between the United States and the
Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau. Under the compact, the U.S.
provides full international defense authority and responsibilities.
“These U.S. Pacific states, territories, and commonwealths are the homeland and have
direct connection to U.S. banking, education, and health systems. Although under many
U.S. protections on paper, the region has explicitly asked for more U.S. presence,
specifically to bolster areas of vulnerabilities and limit the potential for exploitation in the
region.” [Emphasis Supplied]
Source: U.S. Coast Guard and the Emerging Criticality of Maritime Governance in Oceania By CDR
Jeremy Obenchain, U.S. Coast Guard Liaison Officer, Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military
Affairs and LCDR Leah Cole, U.S. Coast Guard Military Fellow, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center
for Security Studies, The Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine
Safety & Security Council, Spring 2020 Vol. 77, Number 1 <https://www.dco.uscg.mil/portals/9/DCO
%20Documents/Proceedings%20Magazine/Archive/2020/Vol77_No1_Spring2020.pdf?ver=2020-06-24-174602-383>
___________________________
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS ARE GROUND-ZERO
The Migration of International Survelliance and Intelligence Garthering to the Aloha State
RUSSIAN NAVY WEST OF HAWAII PROMPTED F-22 FIGHTER LAUNCH FROM HICKAM
By William Cole, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, June 15, 2021
<https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/06/15/breaking-news/russian-navy-west-of-hawaii-prompted-f-22-fighter-launch-from-hickam-report-says/>
F-22 fighter intercepted a Russian “Bear” Tu-95 bomber off Alaska in 2019. Citing U.S. defense
officials, CBS said the United States scrambled the F-22s from Hawaii on Sunday in response to
Russian bomber flights, but the aircraft did not enter the Air Defense Identification Zone and
were not intercepted. An F-22 fighter intercepted a Russian “Bear” Tu-95 bomber off Alaska in
2019. Citing U.S. defense officials, CBS said the United States scrambled the F-22s from Hawaii
on Sunday in response to Russian bomber flights, but the aircraft did not enter the Air Defense
Identification Zone and were not intercepted.

3. The Russian Navy is edging closer to Hawaii with a big exercise 300 to 500 miles west of the
Aloha State — prompting the Air Force to scramble three missile-armed F-22 fighters on
Sunday, CBS News reported Tuesday. Russian officials said it is the largest exercise in the
Pacific since the end of the Cold War and involves surface ships, anti-submarine aircraft and
long-range bombers, the news outlet said.
Citing U.S. defense officials, CBS said the United States scrambled the F-22s from Hawaii on
Sunday in response to Russian bomber flights, but the aircraft did not enter the Air Defense
Identification Zone and were not intercepted.
“At the same time, officials said a U.S, carrier strike group headed by the USS (Carl) Vinson is
operating about 200 miles east of Hawaii, conducting a strike group certification exercise. The
exercise had been planned but was moved closer to Hawaii in response to the Russian exercise.”
CBS noted the Russian exercise comes ahead of a meeting between President Joe Biden and
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is monitoring the Russian vessels operating in international waters
in the Western Pacific. As part of our normal daily operations, we closely track all vessels in the
Indo-Pacific area of operations through maritime patrol aircraft, surface ships and joint
capabilities. We operate in accordance with international law of the sea and in the air to ensure
that all nations can do the same without fear or contest and in order to secure a free and open
Indo-Pacific. As Russia operates within the region, it is expected to do so in accordance with
international law.”
Navy Capt. Mike Kafka, USN, spokesman for the Oahu-based command
__________
RUSSIAN SPY SHIP OFF KAUAI RESULTS IN POSTPONED MISSILE TEST
By William Cole, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 27, 2021
<https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2021-05-27/Russian-spy-ship-off-Kauai-results-in-postponed-missile-test-1593541.html>
A Russian spy ship loitering in international waters off Kauai for several days has delayed a
Missile Defense Agency missile test, officials said Wednesday.
U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor said in a statement that it "is aware of the Russian vessel
operating in international waters in the vicinity of Hawaii, and will continue to track it through
the duration of its time here. Through maritime patrol aircraft, surface ships and joint capabilities,
we can closely monitor all vessels in the Indo-Pacific area of operations."
U.S. Naval Institute News, which was the first to report the presence of the ship, said it is the
Russian Navy Vishnya-class auxiliary general intelligence, or AGI, ship Kareliya (SSV-535 ).
The Vladivostok-based ship is one of seven AGIs specializing in signals intelligence, USNI
News said. USNI News said the Russian ship was operating 13 nautical miles west of Kauai in
international waters. Territorial waters begin at 12 nautical miles.
An official said the appearance of Russian or Chinese intelligence-gathering vessels off
Hawaii is within historical norms with no signs of a surge. [Emphasis Supplied]
__________

4. WHY A CHINESE SPY SHIP IS HANGING OUT NEXT TO HAWAII
By Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, July 17, 2018
<https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a22172524/chinese-spy-ship-hawaii-rimpac/>
The fleet of ships from across the Asia-Pacific region that has assembled for 2018’s Rim of the
Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises have a familiar observer: a Chinese-intelligence gathering ship. The
Dongdiao-class spy ship is operating off the Hawaiian islands, shadowing the exercises to collect
information on U.S. and allied forces.The ship, according to U.S. Naval Institute News, is a Type
815 Dongdiao-class intelligence gathering ship. The Type 815 class is built to observe and
recover debris from friendly (and not-so-friendly) missile tests. The ship includes a large
tracking radar, tracking camera, telemetry dish, and cranes for fishing missile debris out of the
water. The Type 815s displace 6,000 tons, making them approximately the size of a frigate. They
are only lightly armed, equipped with light, rapid-fire cannons and machine guns.
While China's 815s serve an important domestic task in supporting Chinese missile tests over the
water, their features also make them useful for observing tests by other nations, and perhaps
collecting a few illicit souvenirs on the way. The ships also pack antennas and other sensors
designed to collect radar signals, radio communications, and any other useful electromagnetic
emissions for later analysis.
The 815s are some of China's busiest ships. A Type 815 shadowed RIMPAC in 2014, an
awkward act at odds with the fact that the Chinese Navy had been officially invited to participate
in the multinational exercises. An 815 surveilled the U.S.-Australian Talisman Sabre naval
exercises in 2017 while another monitored a THAAD anti-ballistic missile system test in Alaska
at virtually the same time, in the same year.
_____________________________
MEETING THE CHALLENGE HEAD FIRST
At a time when we are confronting an increasingly aggressive China, and looking to deepen our
defense ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific, it is imperative we have an experienced leader at
Indo-Pacific Command capable of meeting the urgency and sensitivity of this moment. With this
in mind, I would like to introduce and enthusiastically endorse today's nominee – Admiral John
C. Aquilino – to serve as the next commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. I've gotten to work
with Admiral Aquilino during his time in Hawaii and know first-hand he believes in the power of
working together to find whole-of-government solutions, the importance of our alliances and
partnerships, and the imperative for a well-trained and postured force.
Source: Senator Maize Hirono Introduces Admiral John C. Aquilino at His Confirmation Hearing to Serve as
Next Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, Enthusiastically Endorses His Nomination March 23, 2021
<https://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com/post/hirono-introduces-adm-john-aquilino-to-serve-as-next-commander-of-us-indo-pacific-
command>
________________
ADMIRAL JOHN C. AQUILINO
U.S. Pacific Fleet Change of Command Ceremony
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
May 17, 2018
<https://www.cpf.navy.mil/leaders/john-aquilino/speeches/2018/05/change-of-command.pdf>

5. Ladies and gentlemen, great-power competition has reemerged as the central challenge to
security and prosperity. Nowhere are the stakes of that great-power competition higher than here
in the Indo-Pacific.
Our mission is simple and clear: Be ready to execute prompt and sustained combat operations at
sea against any adversary – and win!
The mission will drive everything we do.
Admiral Harris, we will collaborate with our brothers and sisters at PACAF, ARPAC,
MARFORPAC, SOCPAC and 14th Coast Guard District to execute all tasked missions.
CNO, we will help provide you best military advice and generate solutions to fleet challenges in
coordination with Admiral Grady and Fleet Forces Command.
Lastly, to any potential adversary, you have a choice – you can have “no better friend, or no
worse enemy” than the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Let's go to work!