Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development Announces 2nd Annual Asia-Pacific Security Summit to Be Held in Hawaii.

HONOLULU -- U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge is scheduled to address top government leaders, senior business executives, and security, technology and anti-terrorism experts at the 2004 Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit & Exposition from November 14-17 at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu. The summit will consist of four tracks, with one on counterterrorism regional outreach organized and led by U.S. Pacific Command.

"Last year's inaugural event was the region's premier homeland security conference," said Governor Linda Lingle. "The 2004 summit will build on several of last year's topics, including a review of significant changes in regional security over the past twelve months. We expect a large international audience of leaders from all sectors, as well as world-renowned experts and senior frontline responders."

Additional confirmed speakers include:

--Rohan Gunaratna, professor, Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, Singapore;

--His Excellency Ong Keng Yong, secretary-general, Association of Southeast Asian Nations;

--His Excellency Albert F. Del Rosario, ambassador to the U.S., Embassy of the Philippines;

--His Excellency Phanthong Phommahaxay, ambassador to the U.S., Embassy of the Lao PDR;

--Dean Elizabeth Reinskopf Parker, J.D. McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific;

--Ilana Kass, professor of military strategy, National War College;

--Dorothy E. Denning, professor, Department of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School;

--Steven M. Martinez, deputy assistant director, Cyber Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation;

--Rich Wilhelm, vice president for information security, Booz Allen Hamilton;

--William R. Cheswick, chief scientist, Lumeta Corporation;

--Duane J. Gubler, director, Asia-Pacific Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Hawaii;

--Bart Aronoff, MPH, chief, Bio-terrorism Preparedness & Response Branch, State of Hawai`i;

--Scott Lillibridge, professor and director, Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness, University of Texas;

--Rear Admiral Charles D. Wurster, Commander, Fourteenth Coast Guard District (Honolulu)

--Ma. Concepcion B. Clamor, Assistant Director General for Research and Analysis, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Philippines

--Commissioner Jean-Paul Rouiller, Swiss Federal Police Joint Terrorism Task Force 

--Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr., National Security Advisor, Philippines

The Governor's office is organizing the summit in collaboration with the State Department of Defense, DBEDT, the U.S. Pacific Command, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, the US-ASEAN Business Council and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

The summit will be an ideal forum for developing solutions to public and private sector security threats in the Asia-Pacific region. Sessions are designed to maximize participant interaction, stimulate new ideas and innovative approaches through keynote addresses, plenary forums, and roundtable discussions. Complete details are available at: www.hlssummit.hawaii.gov.