STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2219

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 600

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 600, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Deputy Adjutant General of the Department of Defense

G.M. No. 600

KENNETH S. HARA, for a term to expire at noon on 12-05-2022,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Kenneth S. Hara for service as the Deputy Adjutant General.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Brigadier General Hara from the Governor; Department of Transportation; Department of Taxation; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Health; Department of Agriculture; Department of Public Safety; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Human Services; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management; County of Hawai‘i Police Department; County of Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency; and eleven individuals.

Your Committee finds that Brigadier General Hara's background and experience qualify him for service as the Deputy Adjutant General. Brigadier General Hara has served as the Deputy Adjutant General since January 2018 and Commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard since February 2018. Past military experience and leadership roles include serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army National Guard in South Korea, and serving as the Commander or Deputy Commander for various deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.

In addition to his federal mobilizations, Brigadier General Hara has served on several state missions. Of note, Brigadier General Hara served as the Assistant Operations Officer with the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, following Hurricane Iniki, which devastated the island of Kaua‘i in 1992; Task Force KOA commander that conducted National Guard Domestic Operations following an earthquake that struck Hawaii island in 2006; and as the Dual Status Commander of Joint Task Force — 50 in support of the responses to the Kilauea volcanic eruptions and Hurricane Lane in 2018.

Brigadier General Hara has a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from Hawaii Pacific University. In addition to his Master's degree, Brigadier General Hara's military education includes a Command and General Staff Officer Course from the Command and General Staff College in Kansas; Combined Arms Service Staff School in Kansas; Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course in Virginia; Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course in Alabama; and Infantry Officer Basic Course in Georgia.

In 1987, Brigadier General Hara received his commission as an Infantry Second Lieutenant through the Hawaii Military Academy's Officer Candidate School, Hawaii Army National Guard. Brigadier General Hara's awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Aviator Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, and Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

Your Committee further finds that Brigadier General Hara has demonstrated a high level of understanding of the State's emergency management and homeland security needs. His years of military service, accomplishments, and leadership experience indicate that he is well-qualified to serve as the Adjutant General.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, 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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair