Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Air chiefs from nations across the Indo-Pacific region view a flyover during the opening ceremony of the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 31, 2021. The symposium provided an opportunity for air chiefs across the Indo-Pacific region to share dialogue and to build mutual understanding of regional perspectives through bilateral engagements and multinational panels and meetings.Air chiefs from nations across the Indo-Pacific region view a flyover during the opening ceremony of the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 31, 2021. The symposium provided an opportunity for air chiefs across the Indo-Pacific region to share dialogue and to build mutual understanding of regional perspectives through bilateral engagements and multinational panels and meetings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Wilson)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass signs a charter document agreeing upon and signed by senior enlisted leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region at the battleship USS Missouri, Ford Island, Hawaii, during a Senior Enlisted Leadership Summit, Sep. 1, 2021. The charter laid out goals to strengthen relationships and focus on prosperity and security for all.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass signs a charter document agreeing upon and signed by senior enlisted leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region at the battleship USS Missouri, Ford Island, Hawaii, during a Senior Enlisted Leadership Summit, Sep. 1, 2021. The charter laid out goals to strengthen relationships and focus on prosperity and security for all. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Hailey Haux)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Pacific Air Forces Airmen and air chiefs from across the Indo-Pacific region line up to tour a C-17 Globemaster III during an Air Mobility Command Rodeo for Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 30, 2021. The symposium provided an opportunity for air chiefs across the Indo-Pacific region to share dialogue and to build mutual understanding of regional perspectives through bilateral engagements and multinational panels and meetings.Pacific Air Forces Airmen and air chiefs from across the Indo-Pacific region line up to tour a C-17 Globemaster III during an Air Mobility Command Rodeo for Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 30, 2021. The symposium provided an opportunity for air chiefs across the Indo-Pacific region to share dialogue and to build mutual understanding of regional perspectives through bilateral engagements and multinational panels and meetings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Wilson)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Partner nations share strengths, capabilities during PACS-21Published Sept. 9, 2021
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Nick Wilson
                    
                    
                    Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) --**Air chiefs and senior enlisted leaders from the Indo-Pacific region gathered for the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 and the first-ever Senior Enlisted Leadership Summit at Headquarters **Pacific Air Forces**, Aug. 31-Sept. 2.**Gen. Ken Wilsbach**, PACAF commander, hosted the event, which was attended by **Air Force Chief of Staff** **Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.,**and air chiefs from 14 other nations. This year’s theme, “Enduring cooperation toward regional stability,” focused on ensuring a mutual understanding of common issues and challenges, while enhancing capabilities, capacity and interoperability.
“It is vital we strengthen the bonds between like-minded allies and partners,” Brown said. “We are committed to working together for the collective good and want to figure out the best combined approach in consultation with our partners and allies. We can’t afford to not be ready for the next crisis.”
In his opening remarks, Wilsbach highlighted what set PACS-21 apart from previous versions was that 2021 marked the first year the event included an SEL Summit, which incorporated dialogue on professional military education.
The SELs toured the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and USS Missouri, and collaborated to develop a signed charter that laid out goals to strengthen partnerships and focus on prosperity and security for all.Air Vice Marshal Andrew Clark, Royal New Zealand Air Force chief of Air Force, speaks during the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 31, 2021. The symposium consisted of a number of presentations and panel discussions covering topics ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, domain awareness, multi-domain operations and interoperability.Air Vice Marshal Andrew Clark, Royal New Zealand Air Force chief of Air Force, speaks during the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 31, 2021. The symposium consisted of a number of presentations and panel discussions covering topics ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, domain awareness, multi-domain operations and interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Wilson)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defence Force) Gen. Shunji Izutsu, JASDF chief of staff, speaks during a bilateral meeting during Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 (PACS-21) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 31, 2021. Air chiefs from 15 countries participated in PACS-21 which aims to strengthen alliances and partnerships throughout the Indo-Pacific region.Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defence Force) Gen. Shunji Izutsu, JASDF chief of staff, speaks during a bilateral meeting during Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 (PACS-21) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 31, 2021. Air chiefs from 15 countries participated in PACS-21 which aims to strengthen alliances and partnerships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Wilson)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., right, listens to partner nations during the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Sept. 1, 2021. Air chiefs from 15 countries participated in PACS- 21, which aims to strengthen alliances and partnerships throughout the region.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., right, listens to partner nations during the Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium 2021 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Sept. 1, 2021. Air chiefs from 15 countries participated in PACS- 21, which aims to strengthen alliances and partnerships throughout the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jimmie Pike)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

“We intend to accelerate the amount of engagements that we have as senior enlisted leaders across the Indo-Pacific and with our partners across the globe,” said **Chief Master Sgt. David Wolfe**, PACAF command chief. “We also came to a common understanding that we all feel the need for trigger integration of our officer and enlisted training systems so they understand the roles and responsibilities of each other, and that they’re not competing together to operate for the first time during a crisis.”
Wilsbach added that as PACAF disperses Airmen in locations throughout the Indo-Pacific during times of competition, conflict or dire need, noncommissioned officers and captains on the frontlines are expected to fill the roles of chief master sergeants and colonels.
“They need to have skills, you have to invest in them, and it takes a commitment,” Wilsbach continued. “That is the secret sauce. That is the strategic advantage of having an Air Force that can perform at a very high level. Your enlisted force is educated, they're trained and they're developed to lead the force.”
The event included a wide range of bilateral and multilateral meetings, a tabletop exercise and panel discussions.
“The importance of a tabletop exercise is the start of the conversation,” said Kenneth E. Kligge, PACS-21 lead tabletop exercise facilitator and the director of the Center for Applied Strategic Learning at the National Defense University. “It’s not the end of the conversation if we’ve done our task correctly. So, my hope is that moving outside of PACS, we continue to have the dialogue about how we can continue to support each other, understand each other and operate better together.”

"We are committed to working together for the collective good and want to figure out the best combined approach in consultation with our partners and allies."Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.

During the tabletop exercises, the air chiefs dispersed into teams. Each group was assigned two rounds of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, or HA/DR, scenarios that required each team to collaborate to ensure mission success.
“Every time there is a HA/DR, there is something unique about it and how you will respond. To speed up decision-making and response times, it’s advantageous to establish standard operating procedures,” Wilsbach said. “It’s only a matter of time, unfortunately, until we have another disaster in the region.”
The symposium also focused on a wide range of topics covering regional security, air domain awareness, multi-domain operations, interoperability and cyber security.
Wilsbach explained that PACAF and the other nations made progress on these initiatives since PACS-19, but an area that could be improved was building a more cohesive network architecture in the region.
“Let's exercise more; let's have other opportunities to deepen our relationship and deepen our capabilities together to move forward,” Wilsbach said. “A topic that keeps popping up, which is mutual to all of us, is a free and open Indo-Pacific. That's an absolute objective for all of our nations that we are responsible for as Airmen to work.”
Wilsbach also highlighted that modern competitors are becoming increasingly reliant on cyberspace to gain tactical and operational advantages.
“If your cyber is not secured, your advantage goes away,” Wilsbach said. “To command and control forces requires cyberspace, and communication requires cyberspace. So the security aspect of this is incredibly important.”

"We can’t afford to not be ready for the next crisis."Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.

While in discussions, the air chiefs focused on topics of collaboration and interoperability among partner nations.
“We have a good connection between the air chiefs, and events like PACS make this possible,” said Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, Indian Air Force chief of staff. “It is very important to have a clear understanding of how the scenarios are changing in the Indo-Pacific, what the ground realities are, and what we need to do in order to ensure safe passage and the international rule of law.”
Wilsbach thanked the air chiefs for the sacrifices they made to travel to Hawaii despite **COVID-19**quarantine restrictions in their respective countries.
“I know what a huge commitment it was for many of you that have to go back to a two-week quarantine,” Wilsbach said. “That says something to me that you’re committed to PACS and your fellow air chiefs, and that this was a valuable few days for you. I'm so incredibly grateful for your commitment and your friendship.”AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Pacific Air Forces 



JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam 



air chiefs 



CSAF 



Gen. CQ Brown Jr 



CMSAF Bass 



Gen. Ken Wilsbach 



PACS-21 



cooperation 



regional stability 



One Air Force 



Allies 



interoperability Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil