Brigadier General Suzanne P. Vares-Lum

Brig. Gen. Suzanne P. Vares-Lum is the Mobilization Assistant to Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith, Hawaii.

She has a key role in the Pacific Command’s effort to shape and maintain regional security through development of diplomatic, economic, and military policies. This includes building and maintaining military-to-military and political-military relationships among the 43 nations within the Pacific region covering over 51% of the globe. Activities include disaster management, humanitarian assistance, homeland defense, appropriate oversight of reserve component matters, and, as a senior leader within the directorate, oversight of strategy and policy issues that influence the Pacific region.

Vares-Lum was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Military Intelligence Corps on May 15, 1988 through the ROTC program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

She served on active duty as a Regular Army officer from 1989 to 1993 as the 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Support Company Executive Officer, the C Co., 103rd MI Trailblazer Platoon Leader, and the Division Artillery Fire Support Intelligence Officer in the 3rd Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany. In 1993, Vares-Lum left active duty and joined the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade (SIB), Hawaii Army National Guard where she served as the 29th Support Battalion S-2, the 29th SIB Assistant S-2, the first 229th Military Intelligence Company Commander, and the 29th SIB G-2. She also served as the 2nd Battalion Commander, 298th MFTU, HIARNG. Following this position, she served as the Joint Forces Headquarters, Hawaii National Guard J2. She later served as the commander of the 298th Regiment, Multifunctional Training Unit (RTI), Hawaii Army National Guard, where she was responsible for the Officer Candidate Program, NCOES and 11 B WLC and MOS-Q courses. She served as the Vice Chief of the Joint Staff and HING J2. Prior to her current assignment, she served as the Chief of the Joint Staff, Hawaii National Guard.

BG Vares-Lum was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III from August 2004 to March 2006. As the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team S-2, she established and led the Joint Intelligence Center in Balad, Iraq.

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES

• University of Hawaii at Manoa – BA – Journalism
• University of Hawaii at Manoa – M.Ed. – Teaching
• U.S. Army War College – MSS – Strategic Studies

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED

• Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course
• Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course
• Command and General Staff Officer Course
• U.S. Army War College
• Training Institution Pre-Command Course
• Transnational Security Cooperation Course
• Army Force Integration Course for Senior Leaders
• Army Strategic Education Program – Basic (ASEP-B)
• Army Strategic Education Program – Advanced (ASEP-A)
• Syracuse University, National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC)

PROMOTIONS	DATE OF APPOINTMENT
2LT	26 Jun 89
1LT	1 Apr 93
CPT	27 Jun 94
MAJ	1 Nov 00
LTC	7 Aug 06
COL	29 Sep 10
BG	28 Oct 15
MG	28 Jun 18

FROM	TO	ASSIGNMENT
May 18	Present	Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, HQ, INDOPACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
Oct 15	May 18	J5 Mobilization Assistant to Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, US Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii
Apr 15	Oct 15	Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Honolulu, Hawaii
Apr 14	Apr 15	J2, Hawaii ARNG Element, Joint Force Headquarters, Honolulu, Hawaii
Feb 12	Mar 14	Commander, Headquarters, 298th Multifunction Training Brigade, Regional Training Institute, Waimanalo, Hawaii
Feb 10	Feb 12	J2, Hawaii ARNG Element, Joint Force Headquarters, Honolulu, Hawaii
Feb 08	Feb 10	Battalion Commander, 2nd Battallion, 298th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Waimanalo, Hawaii
Mar 06	Mar 07	Joint Task Force J2, Joint Force Headquarters, Honolulu, Hawaii
Aug 04	Mar 06	G2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th Brigade Combat Team, LSA Anaconda, Iraq
Dec 99	Aug 04	Intelligence Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
Mar 99	Dec 99	Assistant Family Program Coordinator, Headquarters, State Area Command (-), Honolulu, Hawaii
Jun 98	Mar 99	Brigade Assistant S2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade, Honolulu, Hawaii
Sep 96	May 98	Company Commander, 229th Military Intelligence Company, Honolulu, Hawaii
Sep 95	Aug 96	S2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade, Honolulu, Hawaii
Dec 93	Aug 95	S2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th Support Battalion, Honolulu, Hawaii
Jan 92	Aug 92	Company Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Support Company, 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Wurzburg, Germany
Apr 91	Jan 92	Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Support Company, 103rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Wurzburg, Germany
Jan 90	Apr 91	Assistant S2, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division Artillery, Wurzburg, Germany

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS	DATE	GRADE
Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, HQ, INDOPACOM, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii	May 18 – Present	Major General
J5 Mobilization Assistant to Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, US Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii	Oct 15 – May 18	Brigadier General
Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Honolulu, Hawaii	Apr 15 – Oct 15	Colonel

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS	DATE	GRADE
G2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th Brigade Combat Team, LSA Anaconda, Iraq	Aug 04 – Mar 06	Major

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• Bronze Star Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
• National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star)
• Iraqi Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star)
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass and “M” Device)
• Army Service Ribbon
• Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral “2”)
• Parachute Badge
• Air Assault Badge

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• University of Hawaii Alumni Association, Member
• Oahu Church of Christ, Ohana Group Assistant Leader
• Pan-Pacific American Leaders and Mentors (PPALM), Treasurer U.S. Army War College Alumni Association, Member
• Military Intelligence Corps Association, Member
• Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., Member
• Lean In Circles, USPACOM Leader

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017 Ellis Island Medal of Honor 2017 Recipient, nominated by USPACOM Commander Admiral Harris
• 2017 SEH Women’s History Month Honoree Panel Member, “Redefining Standards, Making a Difference, and Inspiring Others”
• 2016 University of Hawaii ROTC Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2016 National ROTC Hall of Fame Inductee, Ft. Knox, Kentucky
• 2015 Knowlton Awardee for Military Intelligence Corps Professionals
• 2013 Hawaii National Guard Association Outstanding Army Officer of the Year 2013 2011 U.S. Army War College Commandant’s Writing Award for Research: Security in the Philippines and Indonesia: The U.S. Military Role in Southeast Asia

Last updated September 2019