Mobilization Assistant to Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, United States Pacific Command

Brigadier General 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.

Brigadier General 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, BG 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.

Her military schools include the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff Officer's Course, the U.S. Army War College (DDE), Airborne School, and Air Assault School.

BG Vares-Lum received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 1989 and her Master of Education in Teaching in 1996 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree in 2011.

Her awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Iraqi Campaign Medal.