The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration announced Wednesday it will host the Guam Defense Forum on Sept. 17–18 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, bringing together defense leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders to discuss security in the Indo-Pacific. The event, organized in partnership with the Community Defense Liaison Office, is designed to strengthen collaboration on civil-military issues while highlighting Guam’s strategic role in the region.
Keynote speakers include Admiral Samuel “Sam” Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Assistant Secretary of Defense Dale Marks for Energy, Installations and Environment. The administration said the forum will emphasize regional stability, community well-being and transparency in defense matters that affect the island.
“The Guam Defense Forum is about bringing our community together with defense and regional partners to ensure Guam’s voice is heard in shaping the future of security in the Indo-Pacific,” Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said in a statement. Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio added that strengthening civil-military relations is about building trust, transparency and resilience in the face of challenges such as cyber threats, disinformation, natural disasters and great power competition.
The Community Defense Liaison Office also launched a new website, cdlo.guam.gov, to provide information on defense-related initiatives and community engagement efforts. Registration for the forum is now open at guamdefenseforum.com.