The Association of the U.S. Army wrapped up a successful LANPAC Symposium and Exposition on May 26, an event that had record attendance for meaty discussions on land forces in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Theater.

More than 28 nations participated.

“What a great week,” said Gen. Robert B. Brown, the U.S. Army Pacific commanding general. “It really went beyond expectations.”

More than 1,700 people attend the Honolulu event, a 40 percent increase over 2015 and significant jump from the just under 600 people who attended AUSA’s first LANPAC conference in 2013.

A fifth LANPAC Symposium and Exposition is planned in 2017. A date for this meeting has not yet been set.

Navy Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., the U.S. Pacific Command commander, spoke at the event, the first time the U.S. military’s senior commander of the Indo-Asia-Pacific Theatre has addressed the land force-centric event.

There was praise on the final day of LANPAC for retired Army Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, who will step down on June 30 as AUSA’s president and CEO. On a May 26 panel, retired Army Brig. Gen. Stephen D. Mundt encouraged everyone to take time to shake hands with Sullivan, a former Army chief of staff. “He has done more for the Army and the nation than any other person I know," said Mundt, senior visce president for strategy and business development for Airbus Group, Inc.

Sullivan said LANPAC “came from very small beginnings to become a very significant gathering.”

“It is a very important gathering for such a very important part of the world,” Sullivan said. The event, he said, “is growing. We would be remiss if we didn’t think about expanding it.”