Tenorio: ‘We are a living, breathing, vibrant community forever tied to our land’

Admiral Praises Administration as Guam Defense Forum Kicks Off Final Day

Hagåtña, Guam - As the host community for one of America's largest military projects in decades, Guam deserves to have its civilian life strengthened alongside improvements to the Pentagon's mission to keep the Pacific peaceful.

This moral imperative surrounding the movement of thousands of Marines from Okinawa to the island was underscored heavily by Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio, who welcomed over 300 participants to the second and final day of the 2025 Guam Defense Forum Thursday morning.

"We are not just a staging ground or a strategic location. We are a living, breathing, and vibrant community forever tied to our land, our waters, and our way of life," Lt. Governor Tenorio said. "Our collective vision for Guam, our 'One Guam' approach, must recognize that what strengthens the defense mission must also strengthen the people who call Guam home."

To keep both Guam and America strong during and beyond the planned military buildup, our community must have solid, reliable infrastructure, a robust and sustainable economy, and a skilled, educated workforce. Doing so, according to Tenorio, will make Guam capable of responding to the nation's call to protect and defend the Indo-Pacific from threats to freedom and democracy - a fight where the island finds itself on the frontlines.

"We are yet again in the strategic crosshairs - the intended target for killer missiles and a priority for coordinated cyber attacks. And this is unsettling to our people who desire an unbreakable peace in our homeland and throughout our ocean," Lt. Governor Tenorio said.

Share benefits of progress, not burdens of policy

The Lt. Governor also highlighted the importance of civil responsibility while the buildup progresses - pushing once again for the Pentagon and federal agencies to support projects outside of the island's military bases. Over the years, these win-win initiatives like improving wastewater infrastructure, hardening bridges, and constructing a repository for cultural artifacts, have been critical to what has been called the "One Guam" approach.

"Our 'One Guam' approach means that the defense mission cannot succeed unless it also strengthens civilian life. A new hospital, safe drinking water, resilient energy, cyber protection, reliable communication systems, modernized ports and road networks are not luxuries - they are requirements that support the vibrancy and survival of our entire community as much as the effectiveness of our service members," Lt. Governor Tenorio said. "Peace through strength does not only mean weapons and warfighters. It means Guam can withstand natural disasters, recovering quickly, and serving as a trusted partner in the Pacific. It means our people, indigenous and migrant, civilian and military, share in the benefits of progress, and not just the burdens of policy."

Commander: Military 'fortunate' to have Guam's civilian leaders

The spirit of partnership and teamwork was echoed by Rear Joshua Lasky, Commander of Joint Task Force - Micronesia, who also addressed the forum Thursday morning.

"First, let me thank the Lt. Governor for his leadership and for his remarks this morning, and the Governor - again - for putting together this wonderful event. It is such a wonderful opportunity to have important dialogue," Rear Admiral Lasky said. "We're fortunate to have civilian leaders here who understand that security and prosperity are linked, and who are willing to stand side by side with the military in that way."

According to Lasky, who previously commanded a Navy SEAL platoon and a Naval Special Warfare unit, the forum provided a chance to inform the community not just about the reasoning behind the buildup, but also about the methods the Pentagon and local government will use to accomplish it.

"Yesterday we talked about the 'why;' today, we focus on the 'how.' And the 'how' is what turns strategy into reality," Rear Admiral Lasky said.

His remarks complemented similar statements from both the Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Tenorio, with all three publicly agreeing that modern, upgraded civilian infrastructure that supplies energy, provides cybersecurity, transports equipment, and secures IT assets is key to the buildup's success.

"Our stake in these discussions is simple: when Guam is strong, our deterrence is credible. When Guam is weak, our deterrence is at risk," Rear Admiral Lasky said.

As America's "lynchpin" in the Indo-Pacific region, Guam and her people deserve fairness, foresight, and respect, Lt. Governor Tenorio stressed, before asking attendees to commit to three tasks as the forum wraps up:

1. Address the risks the buildup heightens
2. Maximize the opportunities it creates
3. Minimize the mystery by keeping our people fully informed and engaged

"CHamorus and Guamanians for a century have served and sacrificed in our nation's uniform more than any other American entity. We here have enormous respect and understanding of being One America. It's time our country's leadership respects, understands and joins us in becoming One Guam," Lt. Governor Tenorio stated.

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