Dr. Lackey facilitates at the recent BioSecurity Conference co-hosted by APCSS and the Center for Disaster Relief.

Dr. Lackey facilitates at the recent BioSecurity Conference co-hosted by APCSS and the Center for Disaster Relief.

HONOLULU – Dr. Jimmie R. Lackey, executive director for the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, announced his retirement yesterday.”We are all indebted to Jim for the many years of service he provided as a mainstay here at the Center,” said APCSS director retired Lt. Gen. Ed Smith. “We wish him well, and he is always welcome at APCSS.”

As a project officer at U.S. Pacific Command in 1995, then Col. Lackey was tasked with setting up the Center. He retired from the Army in 1997 after 34 years of service and was subsequently appointed as the APCSS executive director.

Lackey was responsible for developing the concept, and establishing the Center as a viable complement to U.S. Pacific Command’s strategy and mission. He has been involved in every aspect of the Center’s dynamic evolution into a fully functioning regional study, conferencing, and research center. Dr. Lackey most recently coordinated the 10th Anniversary celebrations of the Center.

Actively involved in community and regional activities, Dr. Lackey is past president and serves on the board of the United Services Organization (USO) Hawaii, and the Hawaii Army Museum Society. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Honolulu, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and the Japan-America Society of Hawaii.

Army Col. Dave Shanahan is serving as the acting executive director until a new executive director is selected.