CHENNAI, India -- A large and diverse U.S. delegation will attend DEFEXPO 2018, a key defense trade event in India and the region. The delegation will include active duty military officers, government officials, and industry executives – demonstrating the depth and breadth of the commitment of the United States to the U.S.-India Major Defense Partner relationship. The U.S. Government delegation will be led by Kenneth I. Juster, U.S. Ambassador to India, and Major General Bryan Suntheimer, Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific.

“The U.S. designation of India as a Major Defense Partner marked a milestone in U.S.-India defense cooperation,” said Ambassador Juster. “President Trump and Prime Minister Modi are driving forward this Major Defense Partnership and our broader strategic relationship with a shared vision for peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Together, the United States and India are building a dynamic defense relationship through the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, military exercises, official visits and exchanges, and the sales of military systems and platforms. In addition, the U.S. defense industry has demonstrated its commitment to partnering with India to provide the highest quality, most reliable, and most technologically-advanced defense equipment and systems in the world – from small arms, to unmanned aerial systems, to helicopters and fighter aircraft. Nineteen U.S. companies will exhibit at this year’s DEFEXPO; many more are participating. A number of these companies have operated in India for years, while others are new to the market.

About Kenneth I. Juster, U.S. Ambassador to India

Kenneth I. Juster became the 25th United States Ambassador to the Republic of India on November 23, 2017, when he presented his letter of credence to the President of India. Mr. Juster has over 35 years of experience as a senior business executive, senior law partner, and senior government official.

Mr. Juster previously served from January to June 2017 as the Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council. He was a senior member of both the National Security Council staff and the National Economic Council staff. In this role, Mr. Juster coordinated the Administration’s international economic policy and integrated it with national security and foreign policy. He also served as the lead U.S. negotiator (“Sherpa”) in the run-up to the G7 Summit in Taormina, Italy.

Prior to that, Mr. Juster was a Partner and Managing Director, from 2010-2017, at the global investment firm Warburg Pincus, where he focused on a broad range of issues, including geopolitical risk, global public policy, and regulatory matters relating to the Firm’s investment activities and portfolio companies. From 2005-2010, Mr. Juster was Executive Vice President of Law, Policy, and Corporate Strategy at salesforce.com, a software company that pioneered cloud computing for business enterprises.

Mr. Juster served as U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce from 2001-2005, in charge of the Bureau of Industry and Security. In that capacity, he oversaw issues at the intersection of business and national security, including strategic trade controls, imports and foreign investments that affect U.S. security, enforcement of anti-boycott laws, and industry compliance with international arms control agreements. Mr. Juster co-founded and served as the U.S. Chair of the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group, and was one of the key architects of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership initiative between the United States and India. That initiative helped provide the foundation for the historic civil nuclear agreement between the two countries. Upon completion of his term at the Commerce Department, Mr. Juster received the William C. Redfield Award, the Department’s highest honor.

From 1992-1993, Mr. Juster served as the Counselor (Acting) of the U.S. Department of State, and from 1989-1992 as the Deputy and Senior Adviser to Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger. Mr. Juster was one of the key officials involved in establishing and managing U.S. assistance programs to Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, including setting up the initial Enterprise Funds for the region. He also was part of the five-man team, led by Deputy Secretary Eagleburger, that traveled to Israel prior to and during the first Gulf War to coordinate with the Israelis regarding their posture during the war. Upon completion of his term at the State Department, Mr. Juster received the Distinguished Service Award, the Department’s highest honor.

From 1981-1989 and 1993-2001, Mr. Juster practiced law at the firm Arnold & Porter, where he became a senior partner and his work involved international arbitration and litigation, corporate counseling, regulatory matters, and international trade and transactions. Among his noteworthy cases was the representation of the Government of Panama-in-exile against the Noriega regime.

Mr. Juster also has served as a Visiting Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 2010, a Member of the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations from 2007- 2010, a Visiting Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in 1993, a law clerk in 1980-1981 to Judge James L. Oakes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and at the National Security Council in 1978. In addition, he has served as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, the Chairman of Freedom House, and the Vice Chairman of the Asia Foundation. He is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Diplomacy.

Mr. Juster holds a law degree from the Harvard Law School, a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government (Phi Beta Kappa) from Harvard College.

About Bryan Suntheimer, Deputy Commanding General U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)

Major General Bryan E. Suntheimer is currently serving as Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Pacific, Ft Shafter, Hawaii. He assumed his current assignment in April 2016, assisting the USARPAC Commander in integration and employment of National Guard forces as well as developing deep relationships with joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and foreign partners as part of his responsibilities for the State Partnership Program, Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and Homeland Defense. He also serves as commander of USARPAC’s Joint Task Force Homeland Defense, providing operational mission command for the defense of the U.S homeland in the Pacific.

General Suntheimer received his commission from the Hawaii Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, Hawaii Military Academy in 1988. He has served in numerous positions of increased authority and responsibility to include Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th Infantry Brigade, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 298th Regiment, G4, Hawaii Army National Guard, Deputy Chief, Strategy and Assessment Division, United States Pacific Command, Commander, 103rd Troop Command, Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard, J4 United States Pacific Command and most recently, Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Pacific.

General Suntheimer is a graduate of the US Army’s Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff Course, Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Dual Status Commander Qualification Course, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, and the Army War College. He has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu and a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Military Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

General Suntheimer is married to Marisa Burgess-Suntheimer and they have four children: Ashlee, Tyler, Caitlin, Emily and grandson Ryder.