Guam’s future took center stage this past weekend as students, policymakers, and community leaders gathered for a conversation about where the island goes next. As our island community faces big questions about its economy, identity, and future, some of the island’s next public leaders are already helping lead the conversation.

At the University of Guam this past Saturday, master of public administration candidates hosted a forum -- under the guidance of professor Ronald Aguon -- for a conversation about where Guam goes from here. The forum’s theme – Governance At A Crossroads: Economic Strategy, Cultural Stewardship, and Technology Readiness – focused on how Guam can prepare for rapid economic and technological change without losing the cultural values that define the island.

Keynote speaker Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio said Guam has stood at major turning points before – after war, typhoons, and economic hardship – but says this moment may be one of the most defining yet. He said the choices made now will determine whether Guam continues reacting to global forces – or starts shaping its own future.

“The key is what we do with the lessons of the past," Tenorio advised, "what we do about federal spending we do not design, about supply chains that do not start here and for which we have little influence.”

He also argued that Guam’s culture is more than heritage. It’s an economic asset.

In a global market filled with sameness, what makes Guam distinct can also make it competitive. He explained, “Visitors do not travel across an ocean to experience what they can find anywhere else. They come for what is rooted here: our language, our traditions, our food, our sense of place, our sense of community, our environmental policies, our security, our safety. When we invest in that, it does pay off.”

The conversation then turned to a panel of industry experts fielding questions from students on economic development, government transparency, and federal-territorial relations. Atkins-Kroll business development and sustainability director Ernie Galito said Guam still has untapped economic potential – pointing to underutilized assets like Apra Harbor and the Guam International Airport as possible engines for future growth.

“The Ship Repair Facility down at Apra Harbor – in its heyday – provided jobs, unique services to the US Navy," said Galito. “Things that we could take a look at - one of which should be because of our strategic location close to Asia and being US soil under the US Flag is providing capabilities for trans-shipment. Why cannot Federal Express, UPS, or Amazon consider Guam as a hub for trans-shipment?”

Meanwhile, Speaker Frank Blas, Jr. pushed back on the idea that the Organic Act prevents progress, saying the bigger challenge is finding ways to work together and think more creatively within the system. “The constraints that we think that we have as a result of the rules that are being imposed – or think are being imposed – upon us provide us a challenge to figure out how we can do things," he shared.

As Guam continues navigating economic uncertainty, cultural preservation, and rapid change, the forum also served as a reminder of the value of bringing different generations to the same table — creating space for future leaders and current decision-makers to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and help shape a long-term vision for the island.