24 With the current geopolitical landscape constantly shifting, the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations at West Point is hard at work preparing cadets to become future leaders who will facilitate CMO assisting in foreign affairs. Over 100 cadets along with staff and faculty gathered at the Eisenhower Hall Theatre Ballroom to participate in the 8th annual Student Workshop on Civil-Military Operations, organized by the CSCMO on April 6. Keynote speakers attended in-person and virtually to participate in discussions to contextualize various elements of CMO. The event started with introductory remarks by members of U.S. Military Academy Class of 1978, who sponsored this year’s event, followed by the Honorable Randall Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense. Shriver set the stage for the workshop by sharing insight into China’s development on its blue-water navy capabilities and it’s access to more ports in the pacific to project power across the Pacific Ocean while establishing relations with Pacific Island nations.