Rear Admiral (RADM) Sean Wat, a Naval Officer by training, was enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in January 2002. He was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship, and graduated from Stanford University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts and Science (Mathematics and Philosophy) and a Master of Science (Management Science and Engineering). He also attended the United States Naval Command and Staff Course, conducted at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island from 2013-2014, and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2019.

RADM Wat spent his formative years in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) aboard the Victory-class missile corvettes and thereafter the Formidable-class frigates. He assumed command of the frigate RSS Supreme from 2014 to 2016, and led the ship to clinch the Squadron “Best Ship” and “Top Gun” awards. RADM Wat also served as Deputy Commander Maritime Security Task Force / Maritime Security Command from 2019 to 2020, and as Fleet Commander from 2022 to 2023.

Ashore, RADM Wat was Director of the Defence Policy Office at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) from 2021 to 2022. In this role, he oversaw the foreign interactions and defence policy of MINDEF and the SAF. RADM Wat also served as Head, Force Transformation Office, Joint Plans and Transformation Department, between 2016 and 2018, where he was responsible for long-term planning and capability development efforts for the SAF.

RADM Wat is happily married to Chen Jia’en and they have two children.

Tommy KOH is currently Professor of Law at NUS; Ambassador-At-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Rector of the Tembusu College at NUS; Chairman of the Governing Board of the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Special Adviser to IPS.  He is the Chairman of the International Advisory Panel of the Asia Research Institute (NUS) and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Master’s Degree on Environmental Management (NUS).  He is also the Co-chairman of the Asian Development Bank’s Advisory Committee on Water and Sanitation.   He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SymAsia Foundation of Credit Suisse (pro bono).

He had served as Dean of the Faculty of Law of NUS, Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador to the United States of America, High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Mexico. He was President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.  He was also the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for and the Main Committee of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit).  He was the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.  He was the founding Chairman of the National Arts Council, founding Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation and former Chairman of the National Heritage Board.  He was Singapore’s Chief Negotiator in negotiating an agreement to establish diplomatic relations between Singapore and China.  He was also Singapore’s Chief Negotiator for the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. He acted as Singapore’s Agent in two legal disputes with Malaysia. He has chaired two dispute panels for the WTO. He is the Co‑Chairman of the China‑Singapore Forum and the Japan-Singapore Symposium.

Professor Koh has received awards from the Governments of Singapore, Chile, Finland, France, Japan, Netherlands, Spain and the United States.  Professor Koh received the Champion of the Earth Award from UNEP and the inaugural President’s Award for the Environment from Singapore.   He was conferred with honorary doctoral degrees in law by Yale and Monash Universities.  Harvard University conferred on him the Great Negotiator Award in 2014.

Dr Marty Natalegawa was appointed as Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies on 1 July 2022.

Dr Natalegawa holds a D.Phil. from the Australian National University; an M.Phil. from University of Cambridge; and a BSc (Hons) from the London School of Economics.

Dr Natalegawa served as Foreign Minister of Indonesia (2009 – 2014). Previously, he served as Permanent Representative/Ambassador of Indonesia to the United Nations (UN); Ambassador to the UK and also to Ireland. Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, among others, he served as Director General for ASEAN Cooperation and Director for International Organizations.

Within ASEAN, he has been instrumental in pushing for the ASEAN Community and was an early advocate of an ASEAN role in the Indo-Pacific through the concept of “dynamic equilibrium”. Throughout, including as Foreign Minister, he actively promoted the management and resolution of potential conflicts in the region.

Within the context of the UN, he served, among others, as President of the Security Council in November 2007 and led Indonesia’s delegation at numerous multilateral negotiations, both within the UN and beyond. He was instrumental in securing Indonesia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 2012.

He served in the UNSG’s High Level Panel on Global Response to Health Crises and UN President of the General Assembly’s 72nd Session Team of External Advisors.

He is a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Advisory Board on Mediation. He is also a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament and the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.

He is also presently Asia Society Policy Institute Distinguished Fellow; a member of the International Academic Advisory Committee of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies; the Southeast Asia Advisory Board of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS – Washington, D.C.); Global Advisory Committee of the Jeju Forum; University of Western Australia’s Public Policy Institute Advisory Board; the Board of Directors of the Global Centre for Pluralism, Ottawa; and is a Prominent Research Scholar of the Bank of Indonesia Institute. He is also the Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Leaders Network (APLN) for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

He is the author of  “Does ASEAN Matter? A view from Within” (ISEAS Publishing – 2018).

Dr Natalegawa has been cited as “one of the most respected foreign policy and international security thinkers of his generation, both within Indonesia, in South-east Asia, and in the broader Asia-Pacific region”.

Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, IN (Retd), who was the 24^th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy (31 May 2019 to 30 November 2021), assumed the Chairmanship of the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi, on 17 January 2022.  A naval aviator, who has flown several variants of Kamov helicopters, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1980 and is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai.

The Admiral has commanded the Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi, and the Indian Navy’s guided-missile corvette INS Vijaydurg, and two guided-missile destroyers, INS Rana and INS Delhi. His important assignments include Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet, Chief of Staff of both the Eastern Naval Command and the Tri-Services Unified Command in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area. As Director-General, Project Seabird, he oversaw the development of the Indian Navy’s expansive and modern base at Karwar. He has been Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, has steered operations as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, and spearheaded policies and plans as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

Senior Colonel Zhou Bo (retired) started his military service in 1979. He served in different posts in Guangzhou Air Force Regional Command. From 1993 he worked successively as staff officer, Deputy Director General of West Asia and Africa Bureau and then Deputy Director General of General Planning Bureau of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense of China,Chinese Defense Attaché to the Republic of Namibia and Director of the Centre for Security Cooperation in the Office for International Military Cooperation, Ministry of National Defense. He is now a senior fellow of Center for International  Security and Strategy Tsinghua University. Senior Colonel Zhou Bo has published extensively in English including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy,Financial Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Australian, South China Morning Post, The Diplomat, Strait Times,China~US Focus and China Daily, etc.

Dr David M. Finkelstein, is vice president and director of CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. A long-time student of Chinese and Asian affairs, he is widely published. His 1993 historical monograph, From Abandonment to Salvation: Washington’s Taiwan Dilemma, 1949-50 (GMU Press), was hailed in Presidential Studies Quarterly as “blazing a new trail” and as certain to “take an important place in the literature of U.S.-China relations in the mid-20th Century.” He is also co-editor of China’s Leadership in the 21st Century: The Rise of the Fourth Generation (M.E. Sharpe, 2002); Chinese Warfighting: The PLA Experience Since 1949 (M.E. Sharpe, 2003); China’s Revolution in Doctrinal Affairs: Recent Trends in the Operational Art of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (CNA, 2005); and Civil-Military Relations in Today’s China: Swimming in a New Sea (M.E. Sharpe, 2006).

A retired U.S. Army officer, Dr. Finkelstein held command and staff positions at the platoon, company, battalion, and major Army command levels. He held significant China-related positions at the Pentagon as an advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served on the faculty at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he taught Chinese history.

Dr Finkelstein holds a Ph.D. in Chinese history from Princeton University, and he is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, and the Army War College. He has also studied Mandarin Chinese in Tianjin, China at Nankai University.

Kumar Ramakrishna is Professor of National Security Studies, Provost’s Chair in National Security Studies, Dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), as well as Research Adviser to the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, at RSIS. Prior to his current appointments, he was Head, International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (2020-2022), Head, Centre of Excellence for National Security (2006-2015) and Head, National Security Studies Programme (2016 to 2020). He was also Associate Dean for Policy Studies (2020 to 2022). He obtained a First Class (Honors) in Political Science from the National University of Singapore in 1989 and a Masters in Defence Studies from the University of New South Wales in 1992. He went on to secure his PhD in History from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, in 1999. His current research interests include British propaganda in the Malayan Emergency; propaganda theory and practice; history of strategic thought; and counter-terrorism with a focus on radicalization. He was an Asia Foundation (US) Freeman Fellow in June 2002 and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Washington, D.C., from April to June 2003. He was an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Special Visitor in March 2003, and an International Visitor for the Australian Attorney-General’s Department in 2012. In 2008 he was appointed as a Senior Advisor to the Trusted Information Network on Extremism and Transnational Crime in Southeast Asia and Australia, a joint project of The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C., and The Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney, Australia. In July 2015 he served as a member of the External Reference Group for the United Nations Secretary-General’s draft Plan of Action for Preventing Violent Extremism. In “recognition of the international contribution” he has made to research into violent extremism, in January 2016 he was appointed as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict, Oxford University, UK. In November 2020 he was appointed Visiting Professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, also in the UK.

Ramakrishna has been a frequent speaker on counter-terrorism before local and international audiences, a regular media commentator on the issue and published in numerous internationally refereed journals. He has co-edited two well-received books on counter-terrorism, The New Terrorism: Anatomy, Trends and Counter-Strategies (2002) as well as After Bali: The Threat of Terrorism in Southeast Asia (2004). His first major single-authored book, Emergency Propaganda: The Winning of Malayan Hearts and Minds, 1948-1958 (2002) was described by the International History Review as “required reading for historians of Malaya, and for those whose task is to counter insurgents, guerrillas, and-terrorists”. His most recent book, Radical Pathways: Understanding Muslim Radicalization in Indonesia (2009) was identified by Perspectives on Terrorism in May 2012 as one of the top 150 books on terrorism and counter-terrorism as well as “an important and insightful case study on the pathways to extremism and violent jihad in Indonesia”. His most recent book is Extremist Islam: Recognition and Response in Southeast Asia (New York: Oxford University Press, 2022).

Apart from serving on the international boards of a number of peer-reviewed scholarly journals, he has served as a member of the Singapore Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) Resource Panel on Home Affairs and Law; the Board of Trustees, the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, the Board of Governors of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) Academy, and the Executive Committee of the Political Science Association (Singapore). He has also been inducted into the Executive Boards of the Philippine Institute for Political Violence and Terrorism Research as well as the Council for Asian Transnational Threats Research, a US-led network of think tanks and research institutions engaged in terrorism and transnational threats research.

Vice Admiral Mark Hammond joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1986 as an Electronics Technician at HMAS Cerberus. He commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1988 and subsequently attended the Australian Defence Force Academy graduating in 1990.

Having volunteered for submarine service after initial Officer of the Watch training, Hammond qualified in Oberon class submarines in 1994, before joining HMAS Collins as Navigating Officer in 1996 during First of Class Trials for the Collins Class submarine.

Completing numerous postings at sea in Collins Class submarines, and spending time ashore as a student and instructor, his junior officer postings culminated as Executive Officer in HMAS Sheean. In 2003 Hammond completed both the Netherlands Submarine Command Course (Perisher) and the US Navy’s Prospective Commanding Officer Course, before graduating from Australian Command and Staff Course in 2004.

By the time he was selected as Commanding Officer HMAS Farncomb, Hammond had experience at sea operating in French, British and US nuclear attack submarines, as well as Dutch conventional submarines. Over his two years in Command of Farncomb, he was exposed to the full gamut of submarine operations across the Indo-Pacific.

Subsequent shore postings included representing Australia as the Assistant Naval Attaché in Washington DC, the Director Future Submarines – Operational Requirements, Joint Exercise Director, Director Submarine Sub-Program (Collins and Future Submarines) and a period as the Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Defence Force.

In 2014 he was promoted to Commodore and appointed as Director General Maritime Operations, where he executed Operational Control of the Navy’s ships, submarines and detachments, and was the principal Naval advisor to the Chief of Joint Operations. This demanding role followed with a posting to the United States in 2017 for duties in the Pentagon as the Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. His distinguished performance in this strategic role was recognised with the award of the United States Legion of Merit (Officer).

For exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff roles he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in January 2018.

Returning to Australia in March 2018 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and assumed duties as the Deputy Chief of Navy. Seeking to improve the resilience of the Navy workforce system while in this role, he refreshed retention efforts and sought to modernise Navy’s approaches to training and leadership.

Vice Admiral Hammond assumed the role of Commander Australian Fleet in November 2020 where he was responsible for the operations, and force generation of all ships, submarines, aircraft squadrons, diving teams, and shore establishments. Against the continual drumbeat of directed operations across the Indo-Pacific, he focused the Fleet on optimising warfighting capability, while ensuring seaworthiness and sustainability across all current units.

In June 2022 he was announced as the 33rd Professional Head of the Royal Australian Navy, assuming Command as Chief of Navy on 7th July 2022.

Vice Admiral Hammond’s holds a Bachelor of Science (UNSW, ADFA); Masters in Management (Defence Studies, UC), and Masters in Maritime Studies (UoW). Away from the Navy his interests include cricket, rugby, AFL (Port Adelaide), chess and submarine warfare in World War II. He is the proud restorer of a 1958 American Chris-Craft mahogany speedboat.

1982–1983 navigator (enlisted), 7 Fast Patrol Boat Squadron, Kiel
1984–1987 academic studies Business and Administration, Bundeswehr University Hamburg
1988–1991 above-water warfare officer, 3 Fast Patrol Boat Squadron, Flensburg
1991–1992 navigation officer, FS “Jeanne d’Arc”, Brest (France)
1992–1994 commanding officer, fast patrol boats FGS “S49 Wolf” and FGS “S50
Panther”, 3 Fast Patrol Boat Squadron, Flensburg
1994–1995 principal warfare officer training (AWW), Naval Operations School, Bremerhaven
1995–1997 above-water warfare officer, destroyer FGS “Rommel”, Kiel
1997–1999 national admiral staff officer course,
Bundeswehr Command and Staff College, Hamburg
1999–2001 executive officer, destroyer FGS “Mölders”, Kiel
2001–2003 J5 staff officer, Regional Headquarters, Allied Forces Northern Europe,
Brunssum (Netherlands) (including three months paternity leave)
2003–2004 commanding officer, frigate FGS “Bayern”, Wilhelmshaven
2004–2006 deputy head of branch, Military Policy Division, Federal Ministry of Defence, Berlin
2006–2007 postgraduate studies, US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island (USA)
2007–2008 director, International Admiral Staff Officer Course,
Bundeswehr Command and Staff College, Hamburg
2008–2012 deputy commander and chief of staff, German Navy Flotilla 1, Kiel
2012–2014 head of branch, Strategy and Operations Directorate (Sub-Sahel Africa, America,
Arctic), Federal Ministry of Defence, Berlin
2014–2015 head of branch, Concepts and International Cooperation Branch,
German Navy Headquarters, Rostock
2015–2018 commander, German Navy Flotilla 1, and director, NATO Centre of
Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters, Kiel
2018–2019 Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, German Joint Support Service
Headquarters, Bonn
2019–2021 commander, NATO Joint Warfare Centre, Stavanger (Norway)
2021–2022 Commander of the German Fleet and Vice Chief of the German Navy,
German Navy Headquarters, Rostock
since 03/2022 Chief of the German Navy, German Navy Headquarters, Rostock

Admiral Sakai is a native of Shiga Prefecture. He majored in Management at the National Defense Academy graduating in 1987, and proceeded to Maritime Officer Candidate School, where he learned the foundations to be a JMSDF officer.

Admiral Sakai is a surface warfare officer and his first onboard assignment was JS Shirane (DDH 143), followed by JS Yubari (DE 227), JS Sendai (DE 232), JS Isoyuki (DD 127) and JS Akebono (DD 108), where he gained experiences at sea. In 2004, he became the commanding officer of JS Shirayuki (DD 123). Admiral Sakai commanded Escort Division seven and Escort Flotilla one well as becoming the Chief of Staff of the Fleet Escort Force.

Ashore, at Maritime Staff Office, Admiral Sakai’s assignments include the Chief of Annual Programming Section and Plans and Programs Section, the Director of Education Division, and the Director General of Operations and Plans Department. He became the Commandant of the Ominato District in 2018, followed by Commandant of Kure in 2019 and Yokosuka in 2020.

Admiral Sakai’s professional education includes the Harvard John F. Kennedy School, where he acquired a master’s degree in Public Policy and the Command Course at the U.S. Naval War College graduating in 2007.

Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman bin Ayob was born on 2nd Dec 1964 in Johor Bahru, Johor. He joined the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) as an Officer Cadet on 2nd July 1982 and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant on 13th June 1984. Starting 27th January 2023, he assumed his current position as the 18th Chief of Navy.

In 1993, Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman completed his submarine training at HMAS PLATYPUS, Australia and obtained his Submarine Qualification Badge. He attended a series of submarine familiarization training in Sweden (1995) France (1999) and completed his Basic Submarine Course (AGOSTA Class) in 2006 in France.

He was the first Naval Region 2 Commander to be based in Sandakan from 30th August 17 following the establishment of the Eastern Fleet Command in Kota Kinabalu. Prior to that, he held the appointment of Submarine Force Commander at the same area. He also had the opportunity to serve as the Deputy Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT-8) at Mindanao, Philippines, Eastern Fleet Commander and as Deputy Chief of Navy.

Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman is also a graduate of Malaysia Armed Forces Staff College Haigate, Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and obtained his Diploma in Defence and Strategic Studies in the same year. He is also a fellow of the Centre of Defence and Strategic Studies, Australia in 2011 and obtained his Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) from Deakin University, Australia.

Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman is married to Datin Dr Norinah binti Mustapha and is blessed with four children. Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman is a tennis player and a keen golfer.

Mely Caballero-Anthony is Professor of International Relations and holds the President’s Chair for International Relations and Security Studies.  She is also Head of the Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Prof. Anthony’s research interests include regionalism and multilateralism in Asia-Pacific, human security and non-traditional security, nuclear security, conflict prevention and global governance. She has published extensively on a broad range of security issues in Asia-Pacific in peer-reviewed journals and international academic press. Her latest books, both single-authored and co-edited, include: Negotiating Governance on Non-Traditional Security in Southeast Asia and Beyond (New York: Columbia University Press, 2018), An Introduction to Non-Traditional Security Studies, (London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2016), Asia on the Move (Japan: JCIE, 2015), and Human Security and Climate Change (London: Routledge, 2014).

Prof. Anthony has led a number of global and regional research projects on international security and global governance.  In 2017, she co-chaired the Global Reflection Group on the ‘Monopoly of the Use of Force- 2.0’ that brought together 21 scholars from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas that examined the nature of security provision in times of uncertainty.  She was also the principal investigator of the MacArthur Asia Security Initiative (ASI) project of Internal Security Challenges in Asia and Cross-Border Implications and was Co-Chair of the Second Murdoch Commission on Food Security, Trade and Partnership in Asia.

Prof Anthony has served as the Secretary-General of the Consortium on Non-Traditional Security Studies in Asia since 2008. From 2015-2017, she was Vice President at-large of the Governing Council of the International Studies Association (ISA) and is currently member of the ISA’s Global South Task Force.  She had held visiting fellowship at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University in 2015. From 2013-2017, Prof Anthony was a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters (ABDM) and served at its Chairperson in 2016 and currently member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network on Nuclear Non-Proliferation (APLN). She was also Director of External Relations at the ASEAN Secretariat from 2011-2012.

GENERAL EDUCATIONS :
1993 Bachelor Degree of Public Administration, WR Supratman University
2019 Master Degree of Management, State University of Jakarta
2021 Doctorate in Management Strategy, Trisakti University

MILITARY EDUCATIONS :
1987 Indonesian Naval Academy
1987 TAR P-4 PP.25 JAM
1988 Helly Deck Party Course
1993 Advance Officer Course (Anti Sub-Marine Warfare Officer)
1995 AMF – Australia
1995 RAN MSP – Australia
2001 Naval Command and Staff College – XXXIX
2001 NSCJC – Japan
2010 Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Command and Staff College – XXXVII
2015 National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia – XX

RANKS :
1987 Ensign 2007 Captain
1990 Lieutenant Junior Grade 2012 First Admiral
1993 Lieutenant 2015 Rear Admiral
1998 Lieutenant Commander 2018 Vice Admiral
2002 Commander

ASSIGNMENTS :
1983 Tactical Action Officer of KRI Akhmad Yani – 351
1999 CO of KRI Tjiptadi – 381
2003 CO of KRI Teluk Semangka – 512
2004 CO of KRI Fatahillah – 361
2007 Commandant of Amphibious Squadron of Eastern Fleet, Indonesian Navy
2008 Commandant of Escort Squadron of Eastern Fleet, Indonesian Navy
2011 Commandant of Eastern Training Fleet, Indonesian Navy
2011 Assistant Commander of Eastern Fleet for Operations
2012 Commandant of Ambon Main Naval Base IX, Indonesian Navy
2012 Chief of Hydrographic and Oceanographic Office, Indonesian Navy
2013 Commander of Sea Battle Task Force of Eastern Fleet, Indonesian Navy
2014 Vice Commander of Eastern Fleet Command, Indonesian Navy
2014 Commander of Military Sea Lift Command, Indonesian Navy
2016 Commander of Western Fleet Command, Indonesian Navy
2018 Assistant Chief of the Indonesian Navy for Operations
2018 Commandant General of Indonesian Armed Forces Academy
2020-… Chief of Indonesia Coast Guard (Bakamla RI)

Coast Guard Vice Admiral Punzalan is man of integrity, and an epitome of a hardworking and dedicated public servant.

His roots can be traced from Brgy. Balisong, Batangas; and Gomez St., Tuguegarao, Cagayan, on his father’s and mother’s side, respectively.

He took up his primary and secondary education at the University of the Philippines Integrated School in Diliman, Quezon City and continued with his College Education at U.P. Diliman with the course of Bachelor of Science in Architecture.

While in the middle of his second year in college, he passed the entrance examination at the Philippine Military Academy and graduated with PMA Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992. He joined the Philippine Navy and eventually stayed with the Philippine Coast Guard.

As a young Coast Guard Officer, he underwent the Basic Port State Control Course in Tokyo, and a few years later, the Advanced Port State Control Course in Fukuoka, Japan.

He earned his Master’s Degree in Maritime Safety and Marine Environmental Protection at the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden and took up the Comprehensive Security-Response-to-Terrorism Course (CSRT 10-1) at the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2010.

As part of the continuing program for Counter Terrorism, he attended workshops and conferences in Thailand in 2011 and in Singapore in 2012.

Prior to his present assignment as the Deputy Commandant for Operations, he served as:

• Aide-De-Camp of former PCG Commandant Commodore Arturo Y Capada
• Flag Secretary at the Commandant’s Office
• Staff Secretary to the PCG Chief of Staff
• Secretary Coast Guard Staff
• Spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard
• Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Logistics and for Plans, and Programs and International Affairs
• Commander of Coast Guard Station Coron
• Commander of Coast Guard Station Cebu
• Commander of Coast Guard Station Manila
• Commander of Coast Guard Regional District Southern Tagalog
• Commander of Coast Guard Regional District National Capital Region-Central Luzon (which covers Bajo de Masinloc, and for which he attended meetings of the Task Force on the West Philippine Sea)

He also served as:

• Commander of the Coast Guard Logistics Systems Command
• Commander of Coast Guard Internal Affairs Service
• Chief of Coast Guard Staff at the NHQ-PCG
• Commander of the Marine Environmental Protection Command
• Deputy Commandant for Administration, PCG

Moreover, he got posted as Coast Guard Attaché in London, England and represented the Philippines in meetings at the International Maritime Organization Headquarters.

Amidst the fight against the Covid-19 Pandemic, he was tasked to head the PCG’s Task Force Bayanihan for Returning Overseas Filipinos (TFB-ROF) from April 2021 to March 2022 wherein he was instrumental in harmonizing the efforts of the PCG forces in the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in airports and seaports and for ensuring the safety of thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) against COVID-19.

He is designated as the Team Leader of the PCG for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) and participates in the Philippines’ preparation for the IMSAS in October 2023.

CG VADM Punzalan is known to be a “Systems” person, and looks at the systemic issues behind situations and problems. He then infuses solutions employing systems and information technology in both administrative and operations concerns.

He took the Civil Service Examination (Professional) in 2021 and successfully passed the test with an 84% rating.

He is presently taking up the Doctor in Public Safety and Security Governance at the Philippine Public Safety College in Diliman, Quezon City.

He was awarded the coveted Coast Guard Command-At-Sea Plaque in 2009 after Commanding Five (5) PCG Commissioned Vessels, the last of which was BRP Pampanga or SARV-003 wherein he had the distinction of crossing the Equator for the second time and as the Commanding Officer of a PCG Vessel.

He has by far received numerous awards which include Coast Guard Bronze Cross Medals, Medals for Coast Guard Outstanding Achievement, Coast Guard Superior Achievement, Coast Guard Search and Rescue and Thirty-Two (32) Other PCG and AFP Medals and Ribbons.

He is likewise the first recipient of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cavalier Award for Coast Guard Operations and the first recipient of the Lapu-Lapu Award for Maritime Professionals for the category of Maritime Safety.

Anent to these are recognitions for being twice and consecutively adjudged as Station of the Year Category “A” when he was in Coast Guard Station Cebu and likewise twice and consecutively adjudged as Ship of the Year Category 3 when he was the Commanding Officer of SARV-003.

He is happily married to the former Ms. Jennivir Glace G. Avanzado and their union is blessed with a son, Lance Lizor A. Punzalan, who is presently taking up Law proper.

Mr Lionel Yee Woon Chin, SC, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law from Downing College, the University of Cambridge, UK in 1988 and obtained a Master of Laws (International Legal Studies) degree from the New York University, USA in 1999. He was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1993.

Mr Yee started his legal practice in the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in 1991. He has held appointments in the Civil Division, the International Affairs Division and the Crime Division of the AGC and in the Ministry of Law. He was the Director-General of the International Affairs Division from 2008-2012.

Mr Yee served as the Second Solicitor-General from 1 January 2011, before being appointed as Judicial Commissioner on 1 February 2013. He was appointed Senior Counsel in January 2013.

Mr Yee was appointed the Solicitor-General on 1 February 2014 and assumed office as Deputy Attorney-General on 14 January 2017.

Chad Sbragia is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses where he concentrates on U.S. national security and defense policy and analyses of China’s national and defense strategies and governance. Prior to joining IDA, Mr. Sbragia served as the inaugural Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Previously, Mr. Sbragia served as the Director of the China Research Group for the U.S. Marine Corps. He also served the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command as the Acting Director of the China Strategic Focus Group and as the Country Director for China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mongolia. Mr. Sbragia served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1985-2012 as an Infantry Officer and China Foreign Area Officer, including assignment as the U.S. Marine Attaché within the U.S. Embassy Beijing.

Professor Geoffrey Till is Advisor to the Maritime Security Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore and currently holds the Dudley W. Knox Chair for Naval History and Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College. Previously Dean of Academic Studies at the UK Command and Staff College and Head of the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London, he is Emeritus Professor of Maritime Studies of King’s College London and Chairman of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies. In addition to many articles and chapters on various aspects of maritime strategy and policy defence, he is the author of a number of books.  His most recent include How to Grow a Navy: The Development of Maritime Power (2023) and Seapower: A Guide for the 21st Century, a fourth expanded edition of which appeared in 2018 for Routledge.

Admiral R Hari Kumar, is an alumnus of J-Squadron, 61 Course National Defence Academy. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1983 and has specialized in Gunnery.

Admiral R Hari Kumar has commanded Coast Guard Ship C-01, INS Nishank, INS Kora, INS Ranvir and INS Viraat. His other sea-going appointments include Fleet Operations Officer and Fleet Gunnery Officer of Western Fleet, EXO of INS Vipul, GO of INS Ranjit, Commissioning GO of INS Kuthar and Commissioning GO VIII of INS Ranvir. His ashore appointments include Command Gunnery Officer at HQ Western Naval Command, Naval Advisor to Government of Seychelles, Training Commander INS Dronacharya. His Flag appointments include Commandant of Naval War College at Goa, Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Chief of Staff Western Naval Command, Controller Personnel Services and Chief of Personnel at IHQ MoD (N), and CISC/ VCDS at HQIDS. Prior to taking over as Chief of the Naval Staff, the Admiral was Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.

The Flag Officer had served in the Civil – Military Operations Centre of UN Mission in Somalia (UNOSOM II) at Mogadishu from Dec 1992 to Jun 1993. He attended the US Naval Staff Course at Naval War College, Rhode Island in 1996, Army Higher Command Course at AWC, Mhow in 2004, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London in 2009. He holds a B.Sc. from JNU, MA (International Studies) from Kings College, London, MPhil (Defence & Strategic Studies) from Mumbai University and PG Diploma in Shipping Management from Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping, Mumbai.

He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2010, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2016 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2021.

Admiral R Hari Kumar is a good swimmer, plays badminton and enjoys walking. He is married to Mrs Kala Nair who is presently a home maker. They have one daughter Ms Anjana Nair who is married to Mr Jayvijay and are currently working at Auckland, New Zealand.

Rear Admiral (RADM) David Proctor was born in Napier, New Zealand and joined the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) as a Midshipman in January 1987.

RADM Proctor assumed the role of Chief of Navy on 29 November 2018 following numerous senior positions within the New Zealand Defence Force, including Deputy Commander Joint Forces New Zealand and Acting Vice Chief of Defence Force from July to September 2018.

RADM Proctor has held a number of senior logistics posts during his career, including operational logistics appointments at sea and overseas. His operational service includes a deployment to the Solomon Islands and being appointed Chief of Logistics, United Nations Mission and the New Zealand Senior National Officer in Support of East Timor.

Whilst RADM Proctor’s early shore-based appointments were primarily in the Human Resources arena, he also has staff experience in capability development and delivery. Most notable was his appointment as Deputy Assistant Chief of Capability and Director Capability Portfolio Planning in 2013-14.

Following on from his promotion to Commodore and appointment to Commander Logistics in December 2015, RADM Proctor was posted at short notice in March 2017 to the position of Chief of Defence Strategy and Governance. This appointment saw him as a member of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Executive and as a permanent advisor to the NZDF Board.

RADM Proctor has a Masters in Management (Defence Studies), a Masters in Politics and Policy, and is a graduate and fellow of the Centre for Defence Strategic Studies (Canberra). He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and has also been awarded a Deputy Chief of Navy Commendation.

David is married to Wendy Proctor. They have two children; Joshua, who is in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Emma, who is studying at Otago University.

VICE ADMIRAL TORIBIO D ADACI JR PN is the 40* Flag Officer-In-Command of the Philippine Navy. He took the helm on 24 November 2022 after serving as the Commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao for two years. He is the first FOIC to serve a three-year term as set by Republic Act No. 11709 which prescribes fixed terms for officers in key positions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He is a lawyer and a proud member of the PMA “Makatao” Class of 1989. He hails from the province of Ifugao.

His leadership priorities are focused on the following areas: sustainment of the Navy’s gains and policy priorities according to the Philippine Navy Sail Plan 2028; amplifying competence-building approaches through efficient training of personnel; rationalization of the organization; bases development, real estate management and administration; naval diplomacy; and building the new foundations for the Navy’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP). As a lawyer, VADM ADACI also reiterates the need to deliberately contribute to the introduction, formulation and amendment of policies that affect the Navy, including, but not limited to, policies on promotion, retirement, logistics and naval operations.

Before ascending to the top post, VADM ADACI served as the Commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWIM) where he exercised command and control over Fleet and Marine units in Western Mindanao. He also occupied the following key positions: Commander of Naval Installation Command; Commander of Fleet-Marine Ready Force; Deputy Commander of Western Mindanao Command; and Fleet Inspector General.

During his tour as Commander of FMRF, he spearheaded the planning and execution of eleven (11) International Defense and Security Engagements (IDSE), including the Philippine Navy’s first participation in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise in Hawaii in 2018, the first-ever port visit of a Philippine Navy vessel in Vladivostok, Russia in 2018, and the first-ever participation of the Philippine Navy in a naval exercise with China, also in 2018. In 2020, he also supervised the planning and deployment of the Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 to the Middle East for the repatriation of stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were displaced by the US-Iran crisis. On the same year, he led the NTF 82 for another humanitarian mission that assisted the safe return to the Philippines of OFWs who were affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns in Sri Lanka and India.

He specializes on naval operations, education and training, and personnel management and administration. He also successfully commanded the following warships: BRP Sulpicio Fernandez (PG853), BRP Bonny Serrano (PG111), BRP Pangasinan (PS31), and BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS36). Concurrent with his command of Navy vessels, he also became the Commander of several Naval Task Groups (NTG) under different operational commands, including NTG 61.1, NTG 61.2, NTG Basilan, NTG Central, and NTG 62.1, in Naval Forces Western Mindanao, and NTG 41.3 in Naval Forces West. He earned the coveted Command-at-Sea Badge in 2012 and the Senior Command-at-Sea Badge in 2017.

Martin Connell was appointed Second Sea Lord in January 2022. He is responsible for delivery of the RN’s future capabilities, strategy and long-term programme and is the RN’s Principal Personnel Officer.

His early career included various seagoing assignments, initially as a Lynx helicopter observer and then as a principal warfare officer. He has had the privilege of commanding at sea on a number of occasions, including the former aircraft carrier and flagship HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and joint operational command at 1* level while serving as Commander of the UK’s Amphibious Task Group. Ashore he has completed numerous tours in the central staff of the Ministry of Defence, served as the British Naval Attache in Washington D.C. and most recently was the Royal Navy’s Force Generation Director, Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm and Senior Responsible Owner of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme.

He is a graduate of the US Naval War College (2004-05), the Higher Command and Staff Course (2011), the US CAPSTONE Course (2017) and UK Pinnacle (2021). He is a Younger Brother of the Corporation of Trinity House, is President of Royal Navy Football and a trustee of the Naval Children’s Charity.

Adm. Sam Paparo, a native of Morton, Pennsylvania graduated from Villanova University and was commissioned in 1987. He is the son of a former enlisted Marine and the grandson of a World War 2 enlisted Sailor. He has earned a Master of Arts in International Studies from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, the Naval War College and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School. A U.S. Naval Aviator, he is a TOPGUN graduate and has flown over 6,000 hours in the F-14, F-15 and F/A-18 and 1,100 carrier landings.

Operational command tours at sea include Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces, Yokosuka, Japan, deploying in Kitty Hawk Strike Group; Commander, Carrier Air Wing 7, embarked in Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group and Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten. On the ground, he commanded Provincial Reconstruction Team, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan with the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Other operational assignments at sea include Fighter Squadron (VF) 14, flying the F-14 Tomcat with USS John F. Kennedy and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Groups and VFA-15, flying the F/A-18 Hornet with USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Enterprise Strike Groups. He served also on exchange duty with the U.S. Air Force flying the F-15C Eagle with the 71st Fighter Squadron, deploying multiple times to Saudi Arabia and Keflavik, Iceland. In joint operational service, he was Battle Director at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, Al Udeid, Qatar.

His shore assignments include the staff of Commander, Naval Air Forces, as F/A-18 training, readiness and requirements officer. He served as commanding officer of VFA-106. He was Programming Division (OPNAV N80), Strategy and Resource and Requirements Review Board branch head. Executive staff tours include service as executive assistant to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, executive assistant to the 31^st Chief of Naval Operations and director of Operations, J3, U.S. Central Command.

Paparo’s most recent assignment was U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces on from August 2020 to May 2021. He assumed command of U.S. Pacific Fleet on May 5, 2021.

Ambassador Ong Keng Yong is Executive Deputy Chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He is concurrently Director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) and Head of International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at RSIS. Mr Ong continues to hold the position of Ambassador-at-Large at the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is also Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to Pakistan and Non-Resident Ambassador to Iran. Mr Ong has been the Chairman of the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) since 2015.

Mr Ong was High Commissioner of Singapore to Malaysia from July 2011 to October 2014.  He served as Secretary-General of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), based in Jakarta, Indonesia, for five years from January 2003.

He was Singapore’s High Commissioner to India and concurrently Ambassador to Nepal from 1996 to 1998.  From September 1998 to December 2002, he was Press Secretary to the then Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Goh Chok Tong. From 2008 to 2011, he served as Director of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.