Pearl Harbour welcomes military leaders of the Indo-Pacific coming together for U.S.Naval War College flag-level course

Senior military leaders from 18 Indo-Pacific nations converged in the island region of Hawaii to explore combined maritime command-and-control concepts and mechanisms as the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) College of Maritime Operational Warfare completed its Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) flag course in Pearl Harbor. The programme took place between Sept. 4 th to 10, 2025.

Military leaders from various nations gather for a group photo in front of NGIS 662, demonstrating international cooperation and camaraderie. Photo and Content Cred: DVIDS

CFMCC is designed to give senior leaders from all military services and partner nations a broad perspective of the operational level of war and to prepare them for regional leadership.

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet; Gen. Kevin Scheider, commander of U.S. Air Forces Pacific; Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command; and retired Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., former commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea were the Keynote speakers at this iteration of the course.

This course is another example of how the U.S. Naval War College is making a tangible difference in our joint combined ability to deter wars today and, if necessary, win decisively in wars tomorrow,” said Rear Adm. Darryl Walker, NWC president. “Decision makers at the highest levels of American, our allies and partner military forces in the Pacific worked together on critical subjects such as operational planning and command-and-control, strengthening the common knowledge, relationships and battlespace awareness necessary to move out as an integrated, unified and lethal striking force across the region.

CFMCC is a one-week course taught multiple times every year, at the headquarters of a U.S. Navy regional fleet. The graduates of this programme gain the ability to effectively communicate and advance the understanding of security issues between participating nations.

“Operating well in the joint and combined maritime environment requires precise execution, mastery of the basics, and seamless integration with allies and partners,” said Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “CFMCC gives Commanders the tools to lead multinational maritime forces with confidence and prepares them to prevail over shared

challenges.”

Established in 1884, NWC is the oldest institution of its kind in the world which aims to engage with allies and partner (nations) on all matters of naval power to preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in war.

Source: DVIDS, “Indo-Pacific military leaders gather for U.S. Naval War College flag-level course in Pearl Harbor,” by Lt. Cmdr. Seth Koenig, Sept. 16, 2025.

Image Credit: Courtesy Photo / DVIDS (Public Domain). Date taken: Sept. 4, 2025. Location: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.