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Brigadier General Eugene S. Imai

January 21, 2025
Categories: 
HING History, People
  • CHANGE OF COMMAND-Brig. Gen. Eugene Imai passes the HIARNG guidon to State Command Sgt. Major James Kahalehoe during a change of command ceremony on the HHC Brigade lawn Aug. 11, 1996. Maj. Gen Edward V. Richardson observes as Brig. Gen Edward L. Correa Jr. assumes command of the HIARNG. 117th PAT photo by Sgt 1st Class Wayne Iha
  • TAKING COMMAND -- Col. Edward L. Correa Jr. receives the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate) colors from Brig. Gen.Eugene S. Imai, Hawaii Army National Guard commander, Sept. 11.
  • Capt. Kent Okamoto, Battery A, 487th Field Artillery, 29th Infantry Brigade, accepts the outstanding company grade commander trophy from Brig. Gen. Eugene Imai at the Hawaii National Guard Association Awards Banquet at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, May 7.
  • FOND FAREWELL -- Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Y. Komata is presented the Legion of Merit by Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, Hawaii Army National Guard commander, as his wife, Tomoe, looks on. Komata retired in October.
  • Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai (left), commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard, and Master Sgt. Timothy B. Galbiso (second from right) unfurl the colors of the 25th Infantry Division, 1st Detachment (Rear Command Post Operations Cell), at the unit's activation ceremony, Jan. 9. Col. Edward L. Correa Jr. (second from left), commander, Troop Command, looks on, and Lt. Col. Glen I. Sakagawa (right) stands by to take command of the detachment. The detachment is part of the active Army's 25th Infantry Division (Light) but is comprised of 19 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers. Sakagawa previously commanded the Hawaii Military Academy.
  • Col. Eugene S. Imai
  • F1RST TEAM: (left) Lt. Gen. Harold Fields, deputy commander, Pacific Command; Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, commander, Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG); Col. Edward L. Correa Jr., deputy commander, HIARNG; Lt. Gen. Johnnie Corns, commander, U.S. Army Pacific.
  • Set to perform " Percussion Madness" on Oahu are (left to right) State Command Sgt. Maj. Clement Y .F. Hew; Col. Gerald J. Silva, Hawaii Army National Guard chief of staff; and Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, HIARNG commander.
  • Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai (right), commander or the Hawaii Army National Guard, says farewell to soldiers returning to their home stations on the neighbor islands, July 24.
  • Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard, presented the Meritorious Service Medal to Staff Sgt. Albert Domingo, Sgt. 1st Class James E. Yap and Capt. Michael L. Tarpley at the Wailuku Armory, April 12. The recipients are from the 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate).
  • Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard, is pinned by Gov. John Waihee, commander in chief of the Hawaii Army National Guard, and Gen. Imai's wife, Gail, in the Governor's Chambers, March 18.

YEARS OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE

Over 28

TOTAL YEARS OF SERVICE

Over 28

PRESENT ASSIGNMENT

Deputy Commanding General (RC), U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858-5100 since July 1996

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED

  • Adjutant General School, Adjutant General Officer Basic Course
  • Adjutant General School, Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course
  • Command and General Staff College, Command and General Staff Officer Course
  • Institute for Professional Development, Civil Affairs Officer Advanced Course
  • Army War College

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES

  • University of Hawaii – BA Degree – Political Science
  • University of Hawaii – MBA Degree -Business

MAJOR DUTY ASSIGNMENTS FROM TO ASSIGNMENT: USAR – Not on Active Duty

Feb 68Mar 68U.S. Army Reserve Control Group

Active Duty

Mar 68May 68Student Officer, Adjutant General School
May 68Jan 69Personnel management Officer, Headquarters, Sixth U.S. Army
Jan 69Jan 70Assistant Manpower Control Officer, headquarters Company, 1st Signal Brigade

USAR – Not on Active Duty

Jan 70Jun 70U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Annual Training)
Jun 70Oct 71Personnel Management Officer, 621st Personnel Service Company
Oct 71Mar 72Commander, 621st Personnel Service Company
Mar 72Apr 75Commander, 621st Administrative Service Detachment
May 75Mar 87Personnel Management Officer, later Assistant Adjutant General, later Adjutant General, later Assistant Chief of Staff, G5, Headquarters, IX Corps
Mar 87Mar 88Detachment Commander, 1085th Training Exercise and Maneuver Group
Mar 88Jan 91Chief of Staff, Headquarters, IX Corps

ARNG – Not on Active Duty

Feb 91Apr 91Chief Plans Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard
Apr 91Jun 96Assistant Adjutant General/Deputy Commander, Headquarters, State Area Command
Jul 96Dec 99Deputy Commanding General (RC), US Army Pacific

PROMOTIONS DATES OF APPOINTMENT

             

Component Date
2LT USAR1 Feb 68
1LT AUS6 Mar 69
1LT USAR15 Jan 70
CPT USAR18 Jan 72
MAJ USAR15 Jun 77
LTC USAR15 Dec 81
COL ARNG15 Apr 85
COL ARNG1 Feb 91
BG (AGC) ARNG3 Mar 92
BG (Line) ARNG14 Jun 93
MG (Line) ARNG1 Jul 97

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES

  • Legion of Merit
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal
  • Army Commendation Medal
  • Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 4 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • National Defense Service Medal (with 1 bronze Service Star)
  • Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 Campaign Stars)
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 1 bronze Hourglass Device)
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Army Reserve Components Overseas Service Training Ribbon with Numeral 8
  • Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (with “60” Device)

SOURCE OF COMMISSION

ROTC

ADDENDUM TO RESUME OF SERVICE CAREER

CAREER OCCUPATION Senior Vice President for Administration, University of Hawaii

NATURE, SCOPE AND EXTENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides executive leadership, direction, and coordination at a 50,000 + student, $770 million institution for all aspects of:

System-wide administrative and support functions including accounting, assets management, bond system operations, contracts and grants management, disbursing and payroll, treasury and cashiering, internal and external auditing, procurement, real property, risk management, personnel and labor relations, physical planning and capital improvements, information technology, bookstore operations, budgeting, and faculty housing development and assistance programs.

Administrative and support functions including facilities planning and management, buildings and grounds management, auxiliary enterprises, campus security, and environmental health and safety.

Last updated 1999

Imai, Hawaii Army Guard Commander

Col. Eugene S. Imai
Col. Eugene S. Imai
(Picture from the 1991 April – June Pūpūkahi)

Col. Eugene S. Imai was named the new commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard and commander of the Hawaii State Area Command, April 15.

He comes to the Hawaii Guard from Headquarters, IX Corps (Reinforcement), U.S. Army Reserve, at Fort DeRussy, where he served as chief of staff.

Col. Imai received his commission from the University of Hawaii ROTC program and entered active duty in 1968. He joined Headquarters, IX Corps (Augmentation), in 1970 and commanded the 621st Adjutant General Detachment from 1971–1975. He then served as a personnel management officer until becoming the assistant adjutant general, Headquarters, IX Corps (Augmentation), in 1981.

Col. Imai became the adjutant general in 1983 and assistant chief of staff, G-5 (civil affairs), in 1985. He commanded the 1085th Training, Exercise and Maneuver Group in 1987–88 before being promoted to chief of staff, Headquarters, IX Corps (Reinforcement).

He is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10-year Device, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 8 Device, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Service Ribbon, and Republic of Vietnam Medal with 1960 Device.

Col. Imai is the deputy director of the State of Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance. He holds bachelor of arts and master of business administration degrees from the University of Hawaii.

Born in Honolulu, Col. Imai is married to the former Gail Nakasone and has two children, Serina and Gavin.

– 1991 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 3

Governor Pins Star on Imai

Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard, is pinned by Gov. John Waihee, commander in chief of the Hawaii Army National Guard, and Gen. Imai's wife, Gail, in the Governor's Chambers, March 18.
Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard, is pinned by Gov. John Waihee, commander in chief of the Hawaii Army National Guard, and Gen. Imai’s wife, Gail, in the Governor’s Chambers, March 18.
Imai promoted to brigadier general page 3
Imai promoted to brigadier general page 3
(Pictures from the 1992 February – March Pūpūkahi)

Brig. Gen. Eugene S. Imai, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG), was pinned by Gov. John Waihee, commander in chief of the Hawaii National Guard, and Gen. Imai’s wife, Gail, in a ceremony hosted by Maj. Gen. Edward V. Richardson in the Governor’s Chambers, March 18.

Imai’s father, Ernest Imai, pinned the general’s star onto his son’s cap as Ruth Shigekane and Gavin Imai, the new general’s sister and son, proudly looked on. Also present at the ceremony were Gen. Imai’s Reserve Officer Training Corps classmates from the University of Hawaii, Col. Clarence M. Agena, deputy brigade commander of the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Col. Edward R. Cruickshank, intelligence officer (G-2), and Col. George F. Sheridan Jr., plans, operations and training officer (G-3).

As the HIARNG commander, Imai is directly responsible for the readiness of the organization. His responsibilities include developing the chain of command and staff relationships to maximize mission accomplishment and overseeing all major programs.

Imai received his commission and entered active duty in 1968. In 1969, he was sent to the Republic of Vietnam and served as an assistant manpower control officer. He joined the Headquarters, IX Corps (Augmentation), U.S. Army Reserve, in 1970 and commanded the 621st Adjutant General Detachment from 1971 to 1975. He then served as a personnel management officer until becoming the assistant adjutant general, Headquarters, IX Corps (Augmentation), in 1981. He was appointed the adjutant general in 1983 and assistant chief of staff, G-5, in 1985. He commanded the 1085th Training, Exercises and Maneuver Group from 1987 to 1988 before being promoted to chief of staff, Headquarters, IX Corps (Reinforcement). He served in that capacity until transferring to the Hawaii Army National Guard last April.

Imai graduated from the U.S. Army War College in 1987. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Star and Vietnam Service Medal.

In civilian life, Imai is the deputy director of the State Department of Budget and Finance. He has worked for the State of Hawaii since 1971, when he began as a personnel management specialist.

Imai was born in Honolulu. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Hawaii. He and his wife, the former Gail Nakasone, have two children: Serina and Gavin.

– 1992 February – March Pūpūkahi pp. 3
CHANGE OF COMMAND-Brig. Gen. Eugene Imai passes the HIARNG guidon to State Command Sgt. Major James Kahalehoe during a change of command ceremony on the HHC Brigade lawn Aug. 11, 1996. Maj. Gen Edward V. Richardson observes as Brig. Gen Edward L. Correa Jr. assumes command of the HIARNG. 117th PAT photo by Sgt 1st Class Wayne Iha
CHANGE OF COMMAND-Brig. Gen. Eugene Imai passes the HIARNG guidon to State Command Sgt. Major James Kahalehoe during a change of command ceremony on the HHC Brigade lawn Aug. 11, 1996. Maj. Gen Edward V. Richardson observes as Brig. Gen Edward L. Correa Jr. assumes command of the HIARNG. 117th PAT photo by Sgt 1st Class Wayne Iha
(Picture from the 1996 December Pūpūkahi)