Sea Dragon 6 chairs AMD Panel at LANPAC 2015

Photo By Kimberly Menzies | U.S. Army Brig. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood (second from right), the program executive officer with Missiles and Space, speaks as part of a panel discussion led by 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command on integrated air and missile defense May 21, 2015, during the third annual Land Power in the Pacific Symposium and Exhibition held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Thurgood is at the three-day conference which is a professional development forum sponsored by the Association of the United States Army Institute of Land Warfare. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly K. Menzies, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Public Affairs)  

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

05.21.2015

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jaquetta Gooden 

94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command

HONOLULU - Service members and civilian personnel from around the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Honolulu, Hawaii, for the 2015 Land Power in the Pacific Symposium and Exposition, May 19-21.

The professional development forum, hosted by the Association of the United States Army Institute of Land Warfare, seeks to enhance the capabilities of our land forces by strengthening relationships with our joint allies and partners through exhibit displays and panel discussions that focus on the critical role of land forces in the Pacific.

Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander, U.S. Army Pacific Command, made a few remarks on the opportunities the conference provides.

“What an exciting opportunity this is to have people come from great distances for the same purpose, to spend some time learning from one another on how land forces can and are making a difference in the Indo-Asia Pacific,” said Brooks. “I am excited for this years’ LANPAC. We continue to grow in scope, we also continue to grow in relevance, and I am convinced this conference will become the premiere land-centric professional development event in the region as time goes on.”

The forum consisted of several multinational discussion panels allowing military leaders, industry personnel, academia, and various agencies in and around the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to share unique views, experiences, and capabilities through dialogue.

Brig. Gen Eric L. Sanchez, commander, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, served as the chair for the “Air and Missile Defense Forum” panel discussion. Members on the panel included military leaders from the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Pacific Air Forces, and the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space; and industry leaders from Boeing Company and Northrup Grumman.

The panel discussion focused on IAMD in a Multilateral Environment in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The Asia-Pacific region is home to the most capable air and missile threat set of any region in the world; capability, complexity and capacity present a formidable challenge for our IAMD formations in the theater,” explained Sanchez.

“The continuing development of emerging air and missile threat technologies by potential adversaries, designed specifically to defeat U.S. system proficiencies is even more problematic. These enhanced capabilities are driving increased emphasis on requirements for persistent ground-based IAMD and early warning throughout the region and increased emphasis on a multi-service and multi-nation approach to IAMD.”

Panel member Brig. Gen L. Neil Thurgood, program executive officer for the Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, shared his views on the future of development products in regards to IAMD.

“Looking into future development from a material stand point, I ask myself how do we build a piece of equipment that is projected against a threat that is unknown, unpredictable, and that is always changing,” shared Thurgood.

“I think the starting point to being more adaptable and agile, is to build equipment that is number one modular and number two componentized,” explained Thurgood.

During the panel discussion, Sanchez showcased a command video to the attendees that highlighted the capabilities of the 94th AAMDC and the role of IAMD in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility.

LANPAC is a world-class international event that allows units like the 94th AAMDC to share their initiatives and capabilities while also highlighting the role of land forces in the Indo-Asia Pacific Theater and their contributions to the Joint Force in peacetime and war.

This year marks the third year that AUSA has hosted LANPAC in Hawaii.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2015
• Date Posted: 05.21.2015 19:42
• Story ID: 164177
• Location: HONOLULU, HI, US