PACS 26 bolsters global partnerships for a free, open Indo-Pacific

The Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium opened May 12 at Pacific Air Forces headquarters on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, launching a weeklong gathering of air force leaders from more than 20 nations to advance integration and strengthen alliances across the Indo-Pacific.

Gen. Kevin Schneider, PACAF commander and host of this year’s event, underscored the stakes for regional security and the value of working in concert with partner air forces. “The United States is steadfast in its commitment to this region where all nations can prosper free from coercion,” Schneider said. “Through multilateral engagements like this, multinational exercises, or partner exchanges, PACAF is committed to working alongside this powerful network of allies and partners, to not only refine and sustain airpower but strengthen our regional security.”

Also attending were Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe. Wilsbach framed the symposium’s agenda around practical steps to enhance joint effectiveness. “It’s great to join this important gathering of likeminded nations,” Wilsbach said. “The Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium continues to be about readiness and interoperability. By better integrating our capabilities with our allies and partners, we send a clear signal of our collective resolve to deter any adversary.”

Senior enlisted leaders from multiple countries are meeting alongside their air chiefs, aiming to align approaches and deepen day-to-day cooperation among enlisted ranks. “It’s about speaking a common language and doing hard things together,” Wolfe said. “When our leaders work shoulder-to-shoulder with our international counterparts to solve problems and have real conversations, we’re not just building relationships—we’re building the operational strength that ensures security in the region.”

Participants include commanders and senior noncommissioned officers from across the Indo-Pacific, as well as select European and Western Hemisphere partners, reflecting a broad effort to synchronize capabilities and address common security challenges. Organizers say the program is designed to translate strategic alignment into coordinated operations, with sessions that emphasize practical collaboration.

Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, chief of the Royal Australian Air Force and serving as the symposium’s dean, highlighted the responsibility of attendees to move beyond dialogue to action. “As air chiefs, our responsibility is to translate strategic intent into operational reality,” Chappell said. “This week is about ensuring continued integration with each other and strengthening our partnerships so we can respond seamlessly to deliver collective deterrence.”

Throughout the week, air chiefs and enlisted leaders plan to convene panels, bilateral and multilateral meetings, and working groups focused on key themes shaping airpower in the region. Topics include resilient and dispersed operations, the integration of emerging technologies, and approaches to air and missile defense across multiple national systems.

Officials describe the symposium as an opportunity to align planning cycles, expand multilateral training, and refine combined concepts of operation that improve speed, survivability, and interoperability. As regional air forces face rapid technological change and evolving threats, the discussions are expected to inform future exercises, contingency planning, and mechanisms for information sharing among allies and partners.