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	U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Change of Command Ceremony
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        <h1 class="title">U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Change of Command Ceremony</h1>
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    <div><b>By ADM Philip S. Davidson</b> <span class="date">/ Published May 31, 2018</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text"></span>
    <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Adm. Philip Davidson</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">U.S. Indo-Pacific Command</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Change of Command Ceremony</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;"><strong>Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;">May 30, 2018</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;"><em>As Prepared for Delivery</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;"><em><br />
</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;">Sergeant Major, break my flag.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;">Aloha, and good morning. Mr. Secretary, thank you for your inspirational words, and for your confidence and support.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;">Governors, Ambassadors, Ministers of Defense, Senators, Congresswoman, Representatives, Chairman, Chiefs of Defense, CNO, Admirals, Generals, distinguished guests: thank you for being here today. Your presence underscores the importance of Pacific Command and our mutual interest in the security of the Indo-Pacific region.  Humbly, it also means the world to Harry, Bruni, Tracy and I. <br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;">I must recognize the outstanding men and women of the US Pacific Command; I’m in awe of your approach and your attitude.  You proudly represent the very bedrock of our Nation’s security in the Indo-Pacific.<br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #000000;">Your hard work and dedication – your </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">service</span><span style="color: #000000;"> – whether lasting four years, or forty years, or even longer – </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">matters</span><span style="color: #000000;"> when it comes to our </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">security</span><span style="color: #000000;">, our </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">values</span><span style="color: #000000;">, and our </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">interests</span><span style="color: #000000;">. I look forward to working with you on the many challenges here in the Indo-Pacific, and I am unquestionably humbled to be your Commander.</span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Tracy and I are thrilled to be </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">back</span><span style="color: #000000;"> in Hawaii and </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">back</span><span style="color: #000000;"> in the Pacific. I know from experience that there’s a tremendous bond between the community here on Oahu and all the U.S. servicemen and women who call this island </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">home</span><span style="color: #000000;">. It is more than a history of teamwork, friendship and mutual respect. It is <em>ohana,</em> indeed. Thank you for welcoming Tracy and I. I look forward to visiting our state and community leaders in the coming weeks. </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">I am also completely obligated to thank those that have shared this journey with Tracy and I – and provided mentorship and leadership to me over the past 36 years of Naval service. To Joe and Ellyn Dunford, and John and Dana Richardson especially, thank you for your confidence. To the Pacific Command components here today, Tracy and I are grateful for your example – and the teamwork to come.</span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">For Harry and Bruni – to the both of you: tremendous work here at PACOM, and as a fellow citizen, thank you for your continuing lifetime of service, and thank you for such a supportive and enlightening turnover. Just remember, Harry: there’s only two answers that come to mind when you call from your next assignment – "it was my predecessor’s fault..." and "that’s service chief business, Harry."</span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">Seriously, Tracy and I thank you and Bruni for the warm welcome and for your friendship. </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">I am also quite fortunate to have benefited from the tremendous leadership and mentorship of previous Pacific Command commanders and I would be remiss if I did not mention them today <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> even those that are not here. Thank you Tom Fargo, Dick Macke <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> both here today <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> as well as Joe Prueher, Timbo Keating, and Rat Willard. I’m indebted to all of them and forever grateful for their counsel and advice - over the last few months especially</span><a name="_GoBack" style="color: #000000;"></a><span style="color: #000000;">. I will be in touch. </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">And of course I owe a huge thank you to my wife, Tracy. This is house number 22 in our 36 years of marriage – our 4</span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">th</span><span style="color: #000000;"> house here in Hawaii alone. She continues her service even today, as a keen advocate for military families and family readiness. I can’t imagine continuing this adventure without you. Thank you, sweetheart.</span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;">Admiral <span style="color: #000000;">Harris, and his extremely talented headquarters, have set the bar high and taken this command to new heights – all the while navigating an incredibly complex strategic and operational environment.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Ladies and gentlemen, the National Defense Strategy clearly recognizes that “the central challenge to our prosperity and security is the reemergence of long-term, strategic competition by... revisionist powers.” </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">And while China and Russia are the priority in that strategy, challenges by North Korea, Iran and violent extremists remain. </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">Four of the five principal challenges are found in this theater, and the fifth, Iran, has previously operated in the region with an out-of-area deployment to Southeast Asia. </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">For more than 70 years, the Indo-Pacific has been largely peaceful; in most ways, this was made possible by two things: </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">the commitment of free nations to the free and open international order</span><span style="color: #000000;">... </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">underwritten by the credibility of the combat power within U.S. Pacific Command</span><span style="color: #000000;">.</span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI'; font-size: 13px; color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Today, North Korea represents the most pressing concern with its unlawful nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs, and <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> at the same time <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> the most pressing </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">opportunity</span><span style="color: #000000;">.</span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">China continues to improve both the size and the capability of its armed forces, in hopes to supplant the U.S. as the security partner of choice <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> not just in the Indo-Pacific region, but across the globe <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> and on its own terms. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Russia continues to modernize its military in all domains and seeks explicitly to undermine the international order and U.S. security guarantees. </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">The presence of ISIS in the region is real and highlights the need to continue to confront transnational terrorism in the region. </span><br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">For Indo-Pacific Command, and for the allies, partners and friends assembled here today, INDOPACOM must continue our good work to:</span></p>
<ul>
    <li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Defend against and deter our adversaries from attacking the United States, our citizens and interests abroad, as well as our allies in the region;</span></li>
    <li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Develop the relationships with our allies, partners and friends in the region to help advance peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific;</span></li>
    <li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Deliver the readiness necessary to ensure the freedom of the seas and skies, while producing a more lethal, integrated and interoperable combat force, and</span></li>
    <li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000;">Defeat our adversaries <span style="color: #000000;">– and those of our allies <span style="color: #000000;">– should deterrence ever fail.</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Lastly, I want to emphasize that our relationships matter. <span style="color: #000000;">To our allies here in the Indo-Pacific: you will have no better ally. To our partners: I look forward to advancing our partnership in a way that serves our mutual interests. To our friends: our friendship is rock-solid.  We must continue to work </span><span class="Plain_0020Text__Char" style="color: #000000;">together</span><span style="color: #000000;">; peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific relies directly on these bonds. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Mr. Secretary, ladies and gentlemen: I’m eager to get to work <span style="color: #000000;">–</span> thrilled to be here and humbled to be the Commander. I very much look forward to our many successes in the future. Thank you.</span><br />
</span></p><br />
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