The University of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Army Reserve’s 9th Mission Support Command (9th MSC) have entered into a new Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) to advance environmental stewardship, conservation and regulatory compliance at Army Reserve facilities throughout the Pacific region.
“The University of Hawaiʻi is excited to further expand our environmental stewardship role through this agreement with the U.S. Army Reserve’s 9th MSC,” said UH Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Chad Walton. “We are extremely proud to have been selected as a trusted partner in support of the Army Reserve’s mission in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific through our expertise in environmental sciences and stewardship.”
The agreement, signed at Fort Shafter on December 1, establishes a collaborative framework for UH experts to provide environmental compliance, conservation and pollution prevention support to the 9th MSC, ensuring alignment with Department of Defense (DOD), federal, state, territorial and local environmental requirements.
“This partnership underscores UH’s commitment to applying its expertise in service to our community and environment,” said Suzanne Case, director of the UH Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures, which is overseeing the IGSA. “By working alongside the Army Reserve, we are helping to safeguard our environment in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, while supporting mission readiness.”
The new agreement reflects a growing model of military-academic partnerships, where institutions of higher education provide specialized expertise to strengthen DOD operations while creating new applied learning and workforce opportunities for students and researchers.
“Our partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi strengthens our shared mission to preserve Hawaiʻi’s environment and serve the community,” said Brig. Gen. Katherine A. Trombley, commanding general of the 9th Mission Support Command.
The 9th Mission Support Command is America’s Army Reserve of the Pacific. Under the operational control of U.S. Army Pacific Command, it provides trained and ready forces to overseas contingency operations. The command has 3,500 soldiers and 160 civilians located in three different countries, three states, three American territories and seven time zones throughout the Pacific.
