STAND. COM. REP. NO. 641

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 271

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 271, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Adjutant General and Director of Civil Defense

 

G.M. No. 271

Major General Robert G. F. Lee

for a term to expire 12-6-2010,

 

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal statement and resume submitted by the nominee, and finds Major General G. F. Lee to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated as the Adjutant General and Director of Civil Defense.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Major General Robert G. F. Lee, from a United States Senator; the Commander of the 298th Regiment, Multifunctional Training Brigade, Regional Training Institute, Hawaii Army National Guard; the Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard; the Director of the Office of Veterans Services; the Advisory Board on Veterans Services; the Department of Public Safety; the Hawaii Wing of the Civil Air Patrol; the Deputy Commanding General, Department of the Army, Headquarters, United States Army, Pacific; the Chairman of the Hawaii Commissioning Committee, Honolulu Council, Navy League of the United States; the United States Army Reserve Ambassador; the Reserve Officers Association, Department of Hawaii; the Chair of the Armed Services Committee; the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; the Honolulu Advertiser; McCabe, Hamilton & Renny Co., Ltd; Castle & Cook Hawaii; Bank of Hawaii; Maui Realty Company, Inc.; Go For Broke Association, 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry; The Estate of James Campbell; the Director of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; the Chair of the Aloha Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America; the President of the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans; and nine individuals.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination of Major General Robert G. F. Lee from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Major General Robert G. F. Lee was appointed the Adjutant General, State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, on January 1, 2003.  His previous assignment was as Commanding General of the 9th Regional Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve – Pacific from February 8, 1999, until his appointment as Adjutant General.  He is the Director of the State Civil Defense, providing direct support to the Office of Veterans Services, and is the Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor.

 

     Your Committee further finds that in May 1971, General Lee, received his commission through ROTC at the University of Hawaii.  Upon completion of the Air Defense Artillery Basic Course, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve and served as a platoon leader in the 411th Engineer Battalion and the 322nd Civil Affairs Group.

In 1972, General Lee was assigned to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, and served in successive assignments as mortar platoon leader, company commander, and battalion operations officer.  In 1980, he served two years on active duty assigned to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry as Assistant Air Operations Officer.  In 1982, General Lee was reassigned as the Ground Liaison Officer in the Corps Operations Staff, IX Corps (Reinforcement).  In 1988, he returned to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry as its Commanding Officer.  In 1991, following command, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Training, IX Corps (Reinforcement)/9th Army Reserve Command.  In 1996, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff, 9th Army Reserve Command.

 

     Your Committee further finds that General Lee's civilian career includes twenty-seven years of service overhauling nuclear submarines at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard with his final assignment as Superintendent of Nuclear Regional Maintenance for the Pacific Nuclear Submarine Fleet.  He also served as the Pacific Area General Manager for Perot Systems Government Services.

 

     Your Committee further finds that General Lee holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii.  He is a licensed professional engineer in mechanical and nuclear engineering.  His military education includes the Army War College, the Command and General Staff Officers Course, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and the Air Force Ground Operations School.  General Lee has earned numerous awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

 

     Your Committee further finds that General Lee's intimate knowledge of both the challenges and possibilities facing the State Civil Defense make him an invaluable asset in maintaining Hawaii's key role in the security of the Pacific and ensuring economic prosperity.  Based on consistently high performance by the National Guard, the United States Army and United States Air Force continue to include the Hawaii National Guard in their transformation plans.  For example, the 154th Air Wing is still the largest and most complex air wing in the National Guard.  Hawaii, unlike most states, has three flying units. 

 

     Your Committee further finds that the State Civil Defense has grown in size and responsibility.  The Emergency Operations Center now operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  This is a critical part of the National Incident Management System which unifies Federal, State, and local lines of government to manage hazards and incidents.  Hawaii is also a member of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact which will improve Hawaii's response to large scale disasters.  The State Civil Defense continues to prepare for other emergencies ranging from a nuclear dirty bomb to a flu pandemic and will continue to use funding from the Homeland Security to improve emergency preparedness and response for State Civil Defense agencies at the county level.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Department of Defense is an enduring team of the Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii Air National Guard, State Civil Defense, Office of Veterans Services,


and the Youth Challenge Academy.  The professionals that serve in these organizations are vital to the future of the State and nation as they serve in times of crisis and conflict.  To this end, your Committee finds that General Lee's evidenced commitment to the ideals and values of honor, integrity, duty, respect, loyalty, selfless public service, and personal courage combined with his rich experience and heightened understanding of the multi-faceted components of these organizations make him the preeminent nominee to superbly lead the State, by fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of Adjutant General and Director of Civil Defense.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair