Indo-Pacific Command’s Capabilities Development Working Group builds partnerships, advances security cooperation

19 March 2025

From U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Staff

HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. — The 2025 Capabilities Development Working Group (CDWG) reconvened for a week of working sessions and collaboration aimed at enhancing security cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

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Participants of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Capabilities Development Working Group engage in discussions and meetings on the drill floor of Camp Withycombe’s Armed Forces Readiness Center in Happy Valley, Oregon on March 6, 2025.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250306-Z-CH590-1583 Participants of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Capabilities Development Working Group engage in discussions and meetings on the drill floor of Camp Withycombe’s Armed Forces Readiness Center in Happy Valley, Oregon on March 6, 2025. In addition to scheduled plenaries, working groups, and breakout sessions, the event facilitates in-person collaboration opportunities for stakeholders across the security cooperation enterprise. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

Capabilities Development Working Group participants take part in a discussion following a trilateral working session attended by representatives of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and delegations from Japan and the Republic of Korea on March 6, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250306-Z-CH590-1557 Capabilities Development Working Group participants take part in a discussion following a trilateral working session attended by representatives of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and delegations from Japan and the Republic of Korea on March 6, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. The trilateral meeting was designed to identify, synchronize, and integrate security cooperation activities to advance shared security interests in the region. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Rydberg and Scott Moore have a discussion during U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Capabilities Development Working Group at the Camp Withycombe Armed Forces Readiness Center in Happy Valley, Oregon on March 5, 2025.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250305-Z-CH590-1425 U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Rydberg and Scott Moore have a discussion during U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Capabilities Development Working Group at the Camp Withycombe Armed Forces Readiness Center in Happy Valley, Oregon on March 5, 2025. In addition to scheduled plenaries, working groups, and breakout sessions, the event facilitates in-person collaboration opportunities for stakeholders across the security cooperation enterprise. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

Representatives of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense take part in a bilateral working session on March 5, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250305-Z-CH590-1386 Representatives of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense take part in a bilateral working session on March 5, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. As part of the USINDOPACOM’s Capabilities Development Working Group, these sessions aim to synchronize and integrate security cooperation initiatives and advance shared security interests in the region. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Griff Hofman leads a discussion during a bilateral working session on March 5, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250305-Z-CH590-1316 U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Griff Hofman leads a discussion during a bilateral working session on March 5, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. Representatives of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense participate in the session aimed at synchronizing and integrating security cooperation initiatives during USINDOPACOM’s Capabilities Development Working Group. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

Brig. Gen. Kyoung-suk Woo, Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense, along with Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Christopher Markesino, Director of Oregon State Partnership Program, and Katrina O'Brien, Director of Programs & Services for the Oregon Military Museum, pause for a discussion following a tour of the museum on March 4, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250304-Z-CH590-1192 Brig. Gen. Kyoung-suk Woo, Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense, along with Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Christopher Markesino, Director of Oregon State Partnership Program, and Katrina O'Brien, Director of Programs & Services for the Oregon Military Museum, pause for a discussion following a tour of the museum on March 4, 2025 at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. The Oregon National Guard is hosting the Capabilities Development Working Group for the third consecutive year, a weeklong event that brings together stakeholders from the Department of Defense, U.S. government agencies, and international partners to advance security cooperation initiatives across the Indo-Pacific. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel; Oregon Military Department)

Military members and key stakeholders participate in a scheduled Country Sync Session focused on Southeast Asia on March 4, 2025, as part of the Capabilities Development Working Group (SDWG) 2025, held at the Armed Forces Reserve Center at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250304-Z-CH590-1077 Military members and key stakeholders participate in a scheduled Country Sync Session focused on Southeast Asia on March 4, 2025, as part of the Capabilities Development Working Group (SDWG) 2025, held at the Armed Forces Reserve Center at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. Hosted for the third consecutive year by the Oregon National Guard, the event is designed to enhance collaboration and advance U.S. defense capabilities. During the week-long CDWG event, U.S. priorities and national interests are enhanced and allied with international partners, helping prioritize DoD capabilities based on each partner's Security Cooperation Integrated Priority List. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

British Commodore Jonathan Lett, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command J-5 Deputy Director for Policy (left) meets with Brig. Gen. Kyoung-suk Woo, representing the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense (right), and staff members on March 4, 2025 at the Camp Withycombe Armed Forces Readiness Center in Happy Valley, Oregon.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250304-Z-CH590-1044 British Commodore Jonathan Lett, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command J-5 Deputy Director for Policy (left) meets with Brig. Gen. Kyoung-suk Woo, representing the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense (right), and staff members on March 4, 2025 at the Camp Withycombe Armed Forces Readiness Center in Happy Valley, Oregon. The Korean delegation participated in plenary sessions, working groups, and meetings throughout the weeklong event aimed at enhancing shared security interests and activities in the region. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

British Commodore Jonathan Lett, the Director of J-5 Policy for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers the opening remarks at the Capabilities Development Working Group (SDWG) 2025.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250303-Z-CH590-1031 British Commodore Jonathan Lett, the Director of J-5 Policy for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers the opening remarks at the Capabilities Development Working Group (SDWG) 2025. Hosted for the third consecutive year by the Oregon National Guard at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon, on March 3, 2025, the event is designed to enhance collaboration and advance U.S. defense capabilities. During the week-long CDWG event, U.S. priorities and national interests are enhanced and allied with international partners, helping prioritize DoD capabilities based on each partner's Security Cooperation Integrated Priority List. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

More than 450 stakeholders from across the security cooperation enterprise and international partners gather for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Capabilities Development Working Group at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon, March 3-7, 2025.

SLIDESHOW | images | 250303-Z-CH590-1016 More than 450 stakeholders from across the security cooperation enterprise and international partners gather for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Capabilities Development Working Group at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon, March 3-7, 2025. Hosted by USINDOPACOM’s J5 Strategic Policy and Planning Directorate, the weeklong event is comprised of numerous plenaries and working sessions focused on building partner capacity, advancing interoperability, and synchronizing security cooperation initiatives in the region. (Air National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department)

The event was held for the third consecutive year at Camp Withycombe, Oregon from March 3 to March 7, 2025, building upon the foundational principles of a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

This year, more than 450 participants, including international partners from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, gathered to advance, integrate, and synchronize security cooperation initiatives in the region.

Organized by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s J55 Security Cooperation Division, the event focused on assessing feasibility and building momentum while identifying and developing specific military capabilities for each partner nation.

At the start of the conference, British Commodore Jonathan Lett, USINDOPACOM J5 Deputy Director for Policy, welcomed attendees and encouraged them to actively participate in both the training sessions and breakout working groups during CDWG.

“Our primary responsibility is deterrence; however, we must ensure that we have adequate warfighting capabilities to succeed in conflict,” Lett stated, emphasizing the week’s objectives. “I encourage you to maximize your participation in this event, focusing on enhancing your security cooperation efforts and supporting the warfighter.”

Ensuring security is pivotal for promoting free and open international commerce, recognizing that the Indo-Pacific region's economic prosperity and its security are inextricably linked.