SSJ Friends,

YCAPS is pleased to invite you to a new series of events focus on base-hosting communities in Japan. The first event will be a 2 March webinar about Sasebo. Please see details below.

Best regards,
John Bradford


*The History and Strategic Importance of Sasebo, A Navy City*

*March 2nd, 2022 at 1900 (Japan) / 0500 (D.C.) *

YCAPS & the Sasakawa Peace Foundation are pleased to launch the Community Conversations seminar series in Sasebo. The inaugural event will feature Dr. Keizo Kitagawa, Captain JMSDF discussing Sasebo's important role in Japan's history. Captain Ed Thompson (US Navy, ret) will provide comments before an "all hands" question, answer and discussion session.

This event will be a webinar. Future Community Conversations events will be held in person so long as health and safety conditions permit.

Please use this link
<https://ycaps.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5bbded1a549a2f9859b47b53e&id=c68b8dbf1c&e=0de7570f87>
to join via Zoom.


*Speaker*:
*Captain Keizo Kitagawa* is the Chief of Operations Evaluation Office of the Maritime Staff Office in Tokyo. Captain Kitagawa joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) upon his graduation from the United States Naval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 1993. During his career, he earned a Master of Security Studies from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 2007, as well as a PhD from Keio University in 2018. After completing the initial training, Captain Kitagawa became a surface warfare officer where he started his first ship with JS Kirishima (DDG174), Aegis system destroyer as communication officer in 1995, and he experienced various ships and posts like damage control officer, navigator, operations officer, executive officer then Commanding Officer of JS Matsuyuki (DD130) from 2010 to 2011. Also his sea duty includes staff officer of Escort Flotilla Three and he was deployed to the Middle East in the support operation for the Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002. He was the Commander, Escort Division Two(CCD2) from 2019 to 2021 until he took the present position. Captain Kitagawa led the JMSDF force for the RIMPAC 2020 and Pacific Vanguard 2020. His shore duty includes instructor at the JMSDF Officer Candidate School where he taught operation and navigation, International Policy Desk Officer in the Maritime Staff Office, Director of Strategic Studies Office of the JMSDF Command and Staff College. His international duty includes, UN PKO mission, UNDOF in Syria as the Deputy Military Public Military Officer from 2003 to 2004, and deployed to Djibouti for the Counter Piracy Operation from 2009 to 2010. He was the Defense Attaché to the United Kingdom from 2013 to 2016. Captain Kitagawa is a frequent contributor to various academic journals and co-author of a few books including Strategy and the Sea by N.A.M. Rodger, J. Ross Dancy,Benjamin Darnell and Evan Wilson, eds.

*Discussant*:
*Captain Marvin "Ed" Thompson* lives in Yokosuka and has spent many yearsas a Sasebo community leader. His Navy assignment in Sasebo includeservices Deputy Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7; Command,Amphibious Squadron 11; Commanding Officer, USS Germantown; CommandingOfficer, USS Safeguard.

*Format*: This event will be off-the-record.
*Moderator*: John Bradford
*Registration*: Required via this link
<https://ycaps.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5bbded1a549a2f9859b47b53e&id=a27153c310&e=0de7570f87>