Military operations in Hawaii will play a critical role in developing new technologies, more agile forces and partnerships throughout the Asia-Pacific region for a downsizing U.S. military, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday at U.S. Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith in Halawa Heights.

In a 15-minute address to about 250 civilians and military members representing all branches, Panetta said the military faces $487 billion in cuts over the next 10 years while needing to focus on the Pacific region and the Middle East.

"That’s where the potential problems are for the future," he said.

The Department of Defense, Panetta said, also needs to develop more cyber, space and unmanned systems; initiate "creative and innovative rotational movements" to quickly go into other countries while also working to build relationships with counterparts throughout the Asia-Pacific region; and maintain a military force that can "confront more than one enemy at a time and defeat them."

"Every one of the elements I talked about is going to play out here, particularly in the Pacific," Panetta said. "In many ways the strategy I have defined is going to be in your hands, in the hands of the leadership in this part of the world."

Thursday’s visit was the second trip to Hawaii for Panetta as secretary of defense.

In March he presided over the change of command at U.S. Pacific Command and told reporters at the time that international sanctions needed time to work on Iran and Syria before military intervention.

On Thursday, Panetta did not speak to reporters, and a planned outdoor question-and-answer session with military members was canceled because of rainy weather, according to military spokeswomen.

Panetta stopped at Camp Smith on Thursday en route to Singapore, where he is scheduled to speak at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue.

CNN, citing a senior defense official who briefed reporters about the trip, said Panetta is expected to deliver a major policy speech in Singapore focusing on the role of the United States and its defense strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Panetta also is scheduled to meet with military leaders from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia and perhaps China before flying to Vietnam to meet with Vietnamese senior leaders, CNN reported.

Under rainy skies Thursday, Panetta said to laughter that "I’m glad to be in Hawaii. This is tough duty." 

"More than ever, Hawaii remains that key center for operations throughout the Asia-Pacific region," Panetta said. "I really want you to know how important we think Hawaii is to the defense of the United States and, more importantly, for advancing peace and prosperity and security throughout the Asia-Pacific region."

Panetta thanked military members for their service — and also thanked their families — and drew a raucous round of applause when he said, "We’ve made it very clear, very clear that nobody attacks the United States and gets away with it — nobody."

Faced with deep cuts in military spending, Panetta promised to ensure military benefits "that were promised to you deployment after deployment after deployment in the war."

"The last damn thing I want to do is hollow out the force," he said.

He awarded medals and certificates of commendation to three Hawaii-based military members, as well as a commendation to a civilian before giving out Department of Defense coins to the people in attendance.

"They aren’t worth a hell of a lot," Panetta joked about the coins that bear his name, "but they might be able to get you a drink someplace."