Dr. Christine (Crissy) Gayagas serves as an advisor and program lead for the Indo-Pacific region as part of the Institute for Security Governance (ISG). Her work is focused on institutional capacity building (ICB) with partners, enabling their ability to manage security forces.
Prior to this role, Dr. Gayagas served as a visiting scholar at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) to educate, connect, and empower international fellows. She also facilitated seminars and supported workshops, such as the development of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Following her military career where she last served as the Deputy Commander for a 21,000-service member Expeditionary Command in Iraq, COL (Ret) Gayagas led private consulting firms and non-profits supporting Native Hawaiian organizations, renewable energy programs, and global development. She served on the Queens Health System board, Oahu Economic Development board where she chaired the Renewable Energy Committee, the Governor’s Aerospace Committee, the DKI APCSS Foundation board, and chairs the Chaminade University Board of Governors. She sold her first consulting company and served as a co-founder for another where she supported General Motors’ renewable hydrogen fuel cell vehicle pilot program in Hawaii.
Dr. Gayagas hails from Hawaii and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the US Military Academy. She also earned a Master’s in Logistics Management and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, and a Doctorate of Education (Global) from the University of Southern California. She lives in Hawaii with her husband, Doug, and they have one daughter and two dogs. Crissy is an avid e foiler and stand up paddler.
“If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it” – Jonathan Winters
P.S. Make sure you know how to swim!
