Brigadier General James R. Carpenter

Brig. Gen. James R. Carpenter assumed command of the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG) in January 2000. As commander of HIARNG, he is responsible for more than 3,500 soldiers serving in Headquarters, State Area Command, and three major commands: 29th Separate Infantry Brigade (Enhanced), 103rd Troop Command and 298th Regiment-Regional Training Institute. Units are spread over the five islands in Hawaii, five states and two territories.

Carpenter was born in Barre, Vt., on July 19, 1944. In 1962, he graduated from Bellows Falls High School, Vt. He attended the University of Vermont where he earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture in 1967. He went on to earn a master’s degree in animal science from the University of Hawaii in 1969, and a doctorate in animal nutrition from Cornell University in 1976. His military education includes Officer Candidate School in 1969, Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1981, resident Command and General Staff College in 1986, and the resident Army War College in 1992.

Carpenter enlisted in the Army in January 1969. After completing advanced individual training in May 1969, he enrolled in Infantry Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in December 1969. His first assignment was with an armor unit as a platoon leader and battalion liaison officer, and in 1971 he served in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader and company executive officer. After his tour, he served in New York with a U.S. Army Reserve advanced individual training (AIT) engineering training brigade.

In 1977, he joined the Hawaii Army National Guard and has served in various command and staff positions, including commander of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry; and 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery; battalion and brigade chemical officer; assistant brigade S3, brigade S2; and assistant G3. He was also commandant of the Hawaii Military Academy from 1987 to 1991, and commander of the 298th Regiment-Regional Training Institute from December 1996 to January 2000. During his tenure at the academy, General Carpenter guided the Hawaii Army Guard’s move into the Total Army School System expanding mission, including long distance learning and community computer classes. He helped plan the new military education center at Bellows Air Force Station, which will include classrooms, storage, billeting, and administrative areas.

Carpenter works full-time as an associate animal scientist at the University of Hawaii’s Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Science, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. The researcher/instructor received the National Association of College Teachers in Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit and the University of Hawaii Board of Regents Medal of Excellence in Teaching. The widely published doctor is also frequently sought as a researcher, consultant, and lecturer in the South Pacific and the mainland for his work on ruminant nutrition and feed/forage evaluation. Carpenter has been teaching at the UH-Hilo and UH-Manoa for more than 25 years. He talks to high school seniors on career days, gives special lectures and programs, and assists with judging at various high school science fairs.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Silver Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. His state awards include the Vermont Commendation Medal, Hawaii National Guard Service Medal, and State Active Duty Ribbon.

Carpenter is associated with numerous professional, educational, and military societies, and civilian activities. His affiliations include the National Guard Assn. of the U.S., Assn. of the U.S. Army, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Society of Animal Science, American Dairy Science Assn., Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Federation of Animal Sciences Societies, National Dairy Council and Animal Nutrition Research Council, The Research Institute of America, Gamma Sigma Delta and Sigma Xi Honorary Fraternities, Alpha Zeta, Alpha Gamma Rho, and American Baptist Convention.

Carpenter and his wife, the former Jeanne Hirata of Kona, Hawaii, have two grown sons, Anthony and Derrick.

Last updated November 2001