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Major General Joseph R. Harris

January 12, 2026
Categories: 
HING History, People
Maj. Gen. Joseph R. Harris
Maj. Gen. Joseph R. Harris

Maj. Gen. Joseph R. Harris II is the Chief of Staff and Commander of the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard (HIANG). He coordinates with both Federal and State Department of Defense agencies to provide 2,500 combat ready Guardsmen from the 154th Wing, 201st Air Operations Group, and 298th Air Defense Group to enhance Total Force Association combat capabilities within the Pacific Theater and ensure regional stability throughout the Hawaiian Islands during natural disasters and national emergencies.

In 1998, Harris graduated from Northwest Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, and then commissioned through the Academy of Military Science. He is a graduate of the U.S. Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School and was a career aircraft maintenance officer with experience on multiple fighter and heavy aircraft Mission Design Series.

Harris has served in a variety of maintenance, logistics and personnel assignments to include two tours as a squadron commander, two tours as a deputy group commander, and one tour as a group commander. He has over 39 years as a guardsman. Prior to his current assignment, Harris was the HIANG Air Staff Director, Plans and Programs, providing key operational analysis and developing new mission sets for modernizing combat capabilities.

EDUCATION

  • 1998 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
  • 1998 Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Northwest Christian University, Eugene, Ore.
  • 1999 Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
  • 2002 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Officer Course, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
  • 2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2005 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
  • 2007 ANG Intermediate Development Course, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
  • 2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
  • 2013 Master of Public Administration, Portland State University, Ore.
  • 2014 ANG Commander’s Development Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
  • 2016 Maintenance Group Commander’s Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • 2018 Joint Task Force Commander’s Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
  • 2021 Dual Status Commander’s Course, Fort Carson, Colo.
  • 2021 Indo-Pacific Orientation Course, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
  • 2023 General and Flag Officer Seminar, Cambridge, Mass.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. March 1998 – May 1998, Personnel Officer Trainee, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  2. June 1998 – December 1998, Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Trainee, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  3. January 1999 – September 1999, Logistics Support Flight Commander, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  4. October 1999 – February 2000, Aircraft Maintenance & Munitions Officer, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  5. March 2000 – September 2003, 173rd Logistics Support Flight Commander, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  6. October 2003 – May 2004, 173rd Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  7. June 2004 – November 2004, 173rd Mission Support Flight Commander, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  8. December 2004 – September 2006, Aircraft Maintenance & Munitions Officer, 142nd Maintenance Squadron, Portland ANG Base, Ore.
  9. September 2006 – October 2011, Commander, 142nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Portland ANG Base, Ore.
  10. October 2011 – December 2012, Commander, 142nd Maintenance Squadron, Portland ANG Base, Ore.
  11. December 2012 – November 2014, Deputy Commander, 142nd Maintenance Group, Portland ANG Base, Ore.
  12. November 2014 – October 2015, Deputy Commander, 154th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaiʻi
  13. October 2015 – September 2018, Commander, 154th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaiʻi
  14. September 2018 – April 2020, Director of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Hawaiʻi ANG, Fort Ruger, Hawaiʻi
  15. April 2020 – September 2020, Assistant Adjutant General- Air / Commander, Hawaiʻi ANG, Fort Ruger, Hawaiʻi
  16. October 2020 – Present, Chief of Staff / Commander, Hawaiʻi ANG, Fort Ruger, Hawaiʻi

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Legion of Merit
  • Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Reserve Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1998 Victor P. Morris Memorial Award, Northwest Christian University
  • 1998 Commander’s Award for Military Achievement, Academy of Military Science
  • 2001 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 173rd Fighter Wing, Kingsley Field, Ore.
  • 2005 Academic Excellence Award, Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School
  • 2011 Award of Excellence, Mark Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University
  • 2012 Outstanding Graduate, Air War College
  • 2013 Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Portland State University

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant March 12, 1998
  • First Lieutenant March 12, 2000
  • Captain March 12, 2002
  • Major March 16, 2006
  • Lieutenant Colonel April 13, 2010
  • Colonel Dec. 1, 2015
  • Brigadier General April 24, 2020
  • Major General November 30, 2022

Last updated Feb 2025

Maj. Gen. Joseph R. Harris II Podcast

Photos of Maj. Gen. Joseph R. Harris II

U.S. Air Force Col. Joseph Harris, commander of the 154th Maintenance Group, is pinned by Brig. Gen. Braden Sakai, commander of the 154th Wing, and his wife, Sara, during his promotion ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 10, 2016. Harris celebrates 31 years of service with the Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Robert Cabuco/released)
U.S. Air Force Col. Joseph Harris, commander of the 154th Maintenance Group, is pinned by Brig. Gen. Braden Sakai, commander of the 154th Wing, and his wife, Sara, during his promotion ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 10, 2016. Harris celebrates 31 years of service with the Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Robert Cabuco/released)
U.S. Air Force Col. Joseph Harris, 154th Maintenance Group commander hands the 154th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron guidon to U.S. Air Force Maj. Kimo Lowe during an assumption of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 21. 2016. Lowe accepted command of the Hawaii Air National Guard squadron tasked with helping to HIANG F-22 Raptors, KC-135 Stratotankers, and C-17 Globemaster aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Robert Cabuco/released)
U.S. Air Force Col. Joseph Harris, 154th Maintenance Group commander hands the 154th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron guidon to U.S. Air Force Maj. Kimo Lowe during an assumption of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 21. 2016. Lowe accepted command of the Hawaii Air National Guard squadron tasked with helping to HIANG F-22 Raptors, KC-135 Stratotankers, and C-17 Globemaster aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Robert Cabuco/released)
Hawai‘i Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, center, Hawai‘i Air National Guard Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, left, and Indonesian National Armed Forces Air First Marshal Ronny Moningka, Director of Research and Development (Dirjianbang), critiqued a course of action brief during Super Garuda Shield 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sept. 2, 2025. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Sean Walker)
Hawai‘i Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, center, Hawai‘i Air National Guard Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, left, and Indonesian National Armed Forces Air First Marshal Ronny Moningka, Director of Research and Development (Dirjianbang), critiqued a course of action brief during Super Garuda Shield 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sept. 2, 2025. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Sean Walker)
Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, Hawai‘i Adjutant General, left, and Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris, Hawaiʻi Air National Guard Commander, at the Joint Commander’s Conference in July at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (Photo by retired Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson)
Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, Hawai‘i Adjutant General, left, and Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris, Hawaiʻi Air National Guard Commander, at the Joint Commander’s Conference in July at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (Photo by retired Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson)
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
On Jan. 11, 2026, Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II relinquished command of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory. The ceremony was held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam with Airmen, family, friends and past and present military leaders and dignitaries present. Brig. Gen. Mallory now leads more than 2,500 Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen delivering F-22, KC-135, and C-17 capabilities, along with critical command and control, intelligence, and airspace operations across the Indo-Pacific and around the globe — ensuring readiness to protect life, limb, and property in support of the Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi. Mahalo Maj. Gen. Harris for nearly six years of exceptional leadership and aloha to Brig. Gen. Mallory.
A change of command ceremony for the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing was held on Jan. 10, 2026. Brig. Gen. Kristof Sills relinquished command to Col. Shane Nagatani. Presided over by Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, the ceremony honored our wing’s deep legacy of excellence and its vital role in the defense of the Hawaiian Islands. The ceremony included the traditional advancement of the colors with the National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoʻi, followed by the Last Salute to Brig. Gen. Sills and the First Salute to the Wing’s new commander. We extend our deepest gratitude to Brig. Gen. Sills for his dedicated leadership. Under his guidance, the 154th Wing has remained a premier multi-mission organization, providing agile, wartime-ready Airmen and mission capabilities across four separate islands. Welcome Nagatani as the new commander of the Air National Guard’s largest and most complex wing!
A change of command ceremony for the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing was held on Jan. 10, 2026. Brig. Gen. Kristof Sills relinquished command to Col. Shane Nagatani. Presided over by Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, the ceremony honored our wing’s deep legacy of excellence and its vital role in the defense of the Hawaiian Islands. The ceremony included the traditional advancement of the colors with the National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoʻi, followed by the Last Salute to Brig. Gen. Sills and the First Salute to the Wing’s new commander. We extend our deepest gratitude to Brig. Gen. Sills for his dedicated leadership. Under his guidance, the 154th Wing has remained a premier multi-mission organization, providing agile, wartime-ready Airmen and mission capabilities across four separate islands. Welcome Nagatani as the new commander of the Air National Guard’s largest and most complex wing!
A change of command ceremony for the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing was held on Jan. 10, 2026. Brig. Gen. Kristof Sills relinquished command to Col. Shane Nagatani. Presided over by Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, the ceremony honored our wing’s deep legacy of excellence and its vital role in the defense of the Hawaiian Islands. The ceremony included the traditional advancement of the colors with the National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoʻi, followed by the Last Salute to Brig. Gen. Sills and the First Salute to the Wing’s new commander. We extend our deepest gratitude to Brig. Gen. Sills for his dedicated leadership. Under his guidance, the 154th Wing has remained a premier multi-mission organization, providing agile, wartime-ready Airmen and mission capabilities across four separate islands. Welcome Nagatani as the new commander of the Air National Guard’s largest and most complex wing!
A change of command ceremony for the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing was held on Jan. 10, 2026. Brig. Gen. Kristof Sills relinquished command to Col. Shane Nagatani. Presided over by Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, the ceremony honored our wing’s deep legacy of excellence and its vital role in the defense of the Hawaiian Islands. The ceremony included the traditional advancement of the colors with the National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoʻi, followed by the Last Salute to Brig. Gen. Sills and the First Salute to the Wing’s new commander. We extend our deepest gratitude to Brig. Gen. Sills for his dedicated leadership. Under his guidance, the 154th Wing has remained a premier multi-mission organization, providing agile, wartime-ready Airmen and mission capabilities across four separate islands. Welcome Nagatani as the new commander of the Air National Guard’s largest and most complex wing!
Hawai‘i Air National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, left, Chief Master Sgt. Richard Costa, and Maj. Justin Sellona flashed shakas at Costa’s retirement ceremony on Jan. 10, 2026, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Orlando Corpuz)
Hawai‘i Air National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph Harris II, left, Chief Master Sgt. Richard Costa, and Maj. Justin Sellona flashed shakas at Costa’s retirement ceremony on Jan. 10, 2026, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Orlando Corpuz)
Maj. Gen. Harris, former Hawai‘i Air National Guard commanderjoined Na Koa Exchange host retired Maj. Jeff Hickam to discuss his career. (Photo by retired Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson, State of Hawai‘i Department of Defense Public Affairs)
Maj. Gen. Harris, former Hawai‘i Air National Guard commanderjoined Na Koa Exchange host retired Maj. Jeff Hickam to discuss his career. (Photo by retired Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson, State of Hawai‘i Department of Defense Public Affairs)
Governor David Ige and Brig. Gen. Joseph Harris II, Hawai‘i ANG commander Briefed by Human Space Flight team at JBPH-H
Governor David Ige and Brig. Gen. Joseph Harris II, Hawai‘i ANG commander Briefed by Human Space Flight team at JBPH-H