Retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, a Hawaii native, has been chosen to lead the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. (East-West Center)
FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — Retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum has been chosen to lead a Honolulu-based Defense Department think tank focused on advancing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Vares-Lum, who was born and raised in Hawaii, will become director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in January, the security center said in a news release Monday.
She has been president of the East-West Center in Honolulu since 2022.
“Leading the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a profound honor, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me,” Vares-Lum said in the news release.
She is a graduate of the center’s Transnational Security Cooperation course, making her the first alumni and first native Hawaiian to serve as the organization’s director.
In a message sent to East-West Center staff on Monday, Vares-Lum wrote, “Making the decision to depart this great institution was very difficult, but ultimately I believe this new appointment is the best opportunity for me to draw on my cumulative experiences toward making a positive impact on our region.”
In a news release Monday, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, an ex officio member of the East-West Center’s board, lauded Vares-Lum’s “remarkable tenure as the first woman and first Native Hawaiian President of the East-West Center.”
The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies “provides a focal point where national officials, decision makers and policy makers can gather to exchange ideas, explore pressing issues and achieve a greater understanding of the challenges that shape the security environment of the Indo-Pacific region,” according to the organization’s web site.
The center conducts research and offers courses and workshops for military and civilian leaders from Indo-Pacific nations.
Vares-Lum was previously vice-chief and then chief of staff of the Hawaii National Guard. She also served in various Army intelligence units. She was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom III from August 2004 to March 2006.
She has been active in the Hawaii community, serving on boards that include the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council and the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii. In 2011, she earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.
She became a national security fellow of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 2019.
The security center’s previous director, retired Navy Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao, left the position this summer after serving six years. Deputy director Russell Bailey has filled in as acting director since that time.
Vares-Lum said she is eager to begin collaborating with the security center’s team and stakeholders.
“As we navigate this journey, I am committed to fostering a culture of innovation, unity, and shared purpose as we partner to address security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region through education, connection, and empowerment,” she said in the news release.
