U.S.-Japan Alliance in the Indo-Pacific:Contemporary Role of the Defense Sector Click below to read our 2023 Speaker bios. Brigadier General Jeffrey HurlbertCommandant, National War CollegeAmbassador Kurt TongManaging Partner, The Asia Group; Chairman, National Association of Japan-America Societies; Trustee, Japan-America Society of Washington D.C.Ryan ShafferPresident, Japan-America Society of Washington DCOm PrakashChief Executive, Northrop Grumman Japan/President, The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ)(Participating Virtually)Dr. Sheila SmithJohn E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Studies, Council on Foreign Relations(Moderator)Randy YoshimuraSVP & General Manager – Washington Office, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas Komei IsozakiJapan Chair Fellow, Hudson InstituteRon LopezPresident & Managing Director, Astroscale U.S. Inc. (Participating Virtually)Motosada MatanoPolitical Minister, Embassy of Japan