The Pacific Islands and the New Global Competition

Event Overview 

From strategic waterways to climate frontlines, the Pacific Islands are emerging as a critical arena in global affairs. What role do these nations play in U.S. security—and why are they drawing increased attention from world powers like China? Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta in conversation with John D. Brewer, Jr., Director of the Office of Insular Affairs, for an inside look at the United States’ partnerships in the Pacific, including longstanding agreements with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. This conversation will unpack what’s at stake for U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific and why this region matters now more than ever. 

Run of Show

• 6:00 PM Registration & Networking 

• 6:15 PM Welcome Remarks & Speaker Introduction, Rickey Bevington, Moderator 

• 6:20 PM Moderated fireside dialogue with John D. Brewer, Distinguished Speaker 

• 6:50 PM Audience Q&A 

• 7:10 PM Closing Remarks, Rickey Bevington 

• 7:15–7:30 PM Networking & Adjourn 

Key Themes 

• Why the Pacific Islands matter now for global affairs and U.S. interests 

• Growing geopolitical competition and influence in the region 

• America’s unique partnerships with Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau 

• Climate change impacts and the Pacific as a global frontline 

• Broader security considerations, including regional stability and resilience 

• Future direction of U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific and global leadership 

Speaker Bio 

John D. Brewer, Jr. serves as Director of the Office of Insular Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. In this role, he coordinates federal policy for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Brewer also supports the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs in their responsibility to administer and oversee U.S. federal assistance to the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Prior to joining the Interior Department, Brewer served fourteen years in various leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These include Administrator of the United States Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS); Special Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for Intelligence Issues; Assistant Chief Data Officer; and Special Assistant to the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Over his federal government career, Brewer has held senior posts at the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, and Treasury. Brewer resides in North Bethesda, Maryland with his family. He holds bachelor’s degrees in both history and English from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and a master’s degree in international history from the London School of Economics and Political Science in London, United Kingdom. 

Moderator Bio 

Rickey Bevington is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and nationally respected voice on global affairs, civic leadership, and the future of media. She serves as President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta and Executive in Residence at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, bringing decades of storytelling expertise and public engagement leadership to global dialogue. Previously, she spent more than 20 years as a television and radio journalist with outlets including Georgia Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS NewsHour, and Marketplace, and delivered a widely recognized TEDx talk on media literacy and civic responsibility. An internationally engaged leader, Bevington has participated in elite leadership programs and fellowships across Europe and Asia and is a sought-after moderator who has interviewed figures ranging from President Jimmy Carter to General David Petraeus. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Chair of the Agnes Scott College Board of Visitors, and a magna cum laude graduate of Barnard College