Hirono, Perdue Visit USINDOPACOM, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard

Last week, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) – the Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower – visited U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquarters and toured Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

During their visit, Senators Hirono and Perdue met with Admiral Philip Davidson, Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), and were also briefed by the Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), the Navy’s Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), and the Shipyard’s engineers and leadership.

“At a time of escalating tensions with near peer competitors and emerging threats, American military forces stationed in Hawaii are critical to advancing our country’s strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region,” Senator Hirono said. “I want to thank Chairman Perdue for coming to learn first-hand about Hawaii’s important role in safeguarding American national security, and look forward to continuing our work together on the Seapower Subcommittee to support engagement in this strategically vital region of the world.”

“As Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee, I know a robust fleet is critical to deter aggression worldwide, project power, and defend our country,” said Senator Perdue. “After visiting the Hawaii-based units, it is clear, more than ever, that INDOPACOM is crucial to our country’s national security and helps safeguard our presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Maintaining large and capable forces is central to our National Defense Strategy as we face evolving threats in Asia. I personally want to thank Senator Hirono for welcoming me to Hawaii and accompanying me on this tour of her home state’s vital bases.”

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is the oldest and largest of the United States’ unified commands. INDOPACOM oversees the Asia-Pacific region, which is a vital driver of the global economy and includes the world’s busiest international sea lanes and nine of the ten largest ports.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet encompasses 100 million square miles and consists of approximately 200 ships/submarines, nearly 1,200 aircraft, and more than 130,000 sailors and civilians.

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