Strengthening Indo-Pacific defense: How industry and government are aligning through infrastructure
More than 1,200 participated in the IPRS, representing diverse businesses, military and federal agencies and U.S. allies. Key takeaways included:
Infrastructure fortification
Senior leaders from USACE, NAVFAC Pacific and PACAF emphasized that infrastructure is central to the country’s military strategy — essential to sustaining operations, reassuring allies and deterring adversaries.
Design-Build delivery
NAVFAC Pacific is relying more on Design-Build contracts for faster and cost-effective delivery of mission-critical projects. In the 2026 and 2027 fiscal year alone, NAVFAC Pacific is poised to award $50 billion in Multiple Award Construction Contracts (MACCs) and $1.6 billion in Architect-Engineer Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (AE IDIQ) contracts.
Need for execution speed
To reduce costs, shorten timelines, improve efficiency and avoid scope creep on military construction (MILCON) projects, NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command) uses, even mandates, Alternate Construction Methods (ACM)– innovative, non-traditional building techniques and materials – and an approach called Minimum Viable Project (MVP) that focuses on delivering only the infrastructure that is needed to meet operational needs.
Local leverage
A clear and consistent message throughout the summit was that proximity matters. Firms with boots on the ground — like the new Black & Veatch Hawaii office with Andre Lee leading it — are better positioned to respond quickly and build trust.
Collaboration as enabler
The summit revealed strong interest in partnerships that blend global expertise with local insight.
Cybersecurity and mission resilience
Infrastructure must be hardened against cyber threats and natural disasters on the scale of Category 5 typhoons such as Mawar in 2023, which threatened countries across the region and caused widespread damage in Guam. Modular, self-sustaining systems are gaining traction across the theater.
Why distributed, resilient infrastructure is critical across the Indo-Pacific theater
The Indo-Pacific theater faces deepening threats from the political/economic/military axis of China, Russia and North Korea as well as the debilitating impacts of climate instability. To counter them, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (UINDOPACOM), has underscored the urgent need for distributed, integrated, resilient infrastructure — hardened facilities, secure communications and energy and water solutions that are modular, scalable and reliable — to support rapid deployment, joint operations and operational continuity in contested environments.
NAVFAC Pacific’s recent $15 billion MACCs (Multiple Award Construction Contracts) reflect the urgency. Projects span Guam, the Philippines, Australia and beyond, covering everything from hangars and fuel depots to command centers and data infrastructure.
“We are focused on being ready. Ready to deliver acquisition readiness – the ability to work with our contracting partners, to flex, to build logistics and supply chains quickly,” said Rear Admiral Omarr Tobias, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific/Director Facilities and Environmental (N46) and Fleet Civil Engineer (N01CE), U.S. Pacific Fleet. He noted the military’s ability to execute the work relies on “the Poseidon Corollary – the triple threat – our organic force, our industry partners and our troop labor.”
Brigadier General Michael Zuhlsdorf, the director of logistics, engineering and force protection at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, emphasized that contractors need to have a physical presence in the theater to meet requirements. He said it’s essential for contractors to build strong connections with local governments, communities and vendors throughout the region as well as develop innovative designs and adopt new technologies.
Rear Admiral Tobias reinforced the point. “Being forward requires investment,” he said. “Postured and ready to maximize supply chains and networks.”
Industry partners are responding to the call. Black & Veatch has acted, recognizing the importance of proximity to clients in the region – given the speed at which the USINDOPACOM mission is evolving.
