The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies recently celebrated its 10th anniversary on September 4, 2005.

The Center has come a long way since its early days.The concept began when Hawaii ’s Senator Daniel K. Inouye visited the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.He felt the Asia-Pacific region could benefit from an executive education and conference program.In 1994, he introduced congressional language to establish the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii The language instructed the Navy to use $3 million of existing budgeted funds and create the Center as a direct reporting unit to Commander, U.S. Pacific Command.

“When we first started at Camp Smith in August 1995, there were about 12 of us working on four desks in three adjoining rooms.  We spent long hours putting together conference materials for the Inaugural Conference,” remembers Mike Hogan, APCSS facilities manager.
On Sept. 4, 1995, APCSS was officially established during a ceremony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu The Honorable William J. Perry, then U.S. Secretary of Defense and General John Shalikashvill, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined Admiral Richard C. Macke, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command and 33 foreign dignitaries to cut a 72-ft. long ribbon opening the center.  DoD Directive 5200.38 giving official authorization to the Center was signed Jan. 29, 1996.

With a mission to enhance cooperation and build relationships, APCSS complements the U.S. Pacific Command’s security cooperation program. The Center builds on the strong bilateral relationships between PACOM and the governments and their armed forces in the Asia-Pacific region by focusing a multilateral approach to addressing regional security issues and concerns.

“The concept of a College of Security Studies, a conference program and a research program were solid, but no one was exactly sure what they were going to look like and how were going to get there. In other words, it was all raw clay waiting to take shape,” said Lenore Patton, APCSS conference division chief, who has been working at the Center since April 1994.“This is the heart of why I have stayed with APCSS for 10 years. Being a part of molding this ‘raw clay’ over the past decade into the security cooperation center we have today has been exciting and fulfilling. The mission motivated me from the beginning and still motivates me today.”
In October 1995, the center moved from Camp Smith into the Waikiki Trade Center At first they occupied just the 19th floor. But, as the Center began to grow, they expanded their spaces until they occupied 4 ½ floors.

The first 12-week Executive Course began in September 1996 with 23 fellows from 12 countries. This course creates a rare opportunity for future leader education and exchanges. A total of ten executive courses and two senior executive courses were conducted at the Waikiki Trade Center .
In June, 2000, APCSS moved into its present home. Formerly the home of the 9th Army Reserve Command, the building was refurbished to create a “campus-like” atmosphere. The old motor pool was turned into a lanai. The old warehouse was converted into an auditorium and classroom and office spaces. A road adjacent to the building was filled with grass to create a quiet park-like setting.
On August 23, 2000, the building was officially dedicated, with more than 300 VIPs and special guests in attendance. Speakers included: Sen. Daniel K. Inouye; Adm. Dennis Blair, then Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; Dr. William J. Perry, former Secretary of Defense; and retired Lt. Gen. H.C. Stackpole (USMC) APCSS president.
More than 2,000 fellows have entered the halls of the center. To date 26 executive courses and 12 senior executive courses have been conduced at APCSS. In the last few years, the courses were expanded to include the Junior Executive and the Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism courses.

In addition, APCSS has hosted, or co-hosted, more than 100 conferences.  These conferences focus on contemporary issues impacting the region. More than 6,300 participants from 66 countries have attended the conferences.

Today about 128 staff and faculty make up the Center.  It continues to be valuable to security cooperation program, promoting cooperation between Asia-Pacific nations. APCSS provides a multilateral forum for discussion of important and timely security issues and encourages “preventive” defense.

On the eve of the10th anniversary demand for the Center’s services increased. As a result, the Center will be revising the 12 week Executive course to 10 weeks. This will enable the Center to expand from 3 to 4 courses per year for each of the major courses including the Executive Course, Senior Executive Course, Junior Executive Course and Comprehensive Security Response to Terrorism.

In his keynote address during the opening of the Center in 1995, Dr. William J. Perry, then Secretary of Defense said, “Each nation can make a difference for peace, and each nation should try.” APCSS provides a forum to make this possible in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Dr. Perry recently said, “On September 4, 1995, I was in Hawaii at the dedication of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.  And at that time, the Marshall Center in Germany was an established successful organization, which I referred to as a model.  I said in my speech that day that I was confident that the Asia Pacific Center would be “an equal success in this very critical Asia-Pacific Region” – and today it is.  I have visited the Center many times over the last 10 years and met with many of the graduates.  The work that each of you do here and in your country is vital to building healthy security ties in the region.  I have every confidence the Center will continue to grow and expand its contribution to this region and the world.”