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Brigadier General Joseph J. Chaves

January 21, 2025
Categories: 
HING History, People
  • Gov. Linda Lingle, Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves, and Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee unveil the new brigade memorial.
  • Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Chaves, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, and Lt. Gen. John M. Brown III, the U.S. Army Pacific commander, reviewing the troops.
  • Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves, the brigade commander, and Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Robert N. Inouye, casing the brigade colors
  • Soldiers from the 29th Brigade Combat Team begin physical training with a motivation message from their commander, Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves. Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Denny photo
  • STAR TREATMENT- Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves receives his star in June, from his wife, Paulette (right), and his commander in chief, Gov. Linda Lingle. Chaves commands the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team scheduled to deployment to Iraq early next year. Photo by Master Sgt. Stephen M Lum
  • ALL SMILES - Spc. Michael Bearis, is presented a Defender of Freedom certificate, by Brig. Gen. Joseph Chaves, Hawaii Army National Guard and 29th Infantry Brigade commander.
  • Col. Edward L. Correa Jr. (center), commander, Troop Command, passes the colors of the 297th Supply and Service Battalion from outgoing commander of the 297th, Lt. Col.Joseph J. Chaves ( right), to the unit's new commander, Lt. Col. Kenneth M. Tenno (left), during change of command ceremonies, Feb. 7.
  • The 297th Supply and Service Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Joseph Chaves, enters the Aloha Stadium parking lot. The unit ran in formation in the Sounds of Freedom category.
  • PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD -- A company of 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate) soldiers, led by Col. Joseph J. Chaves, brigade deputy commander, pass in review at the Wheeler Army Airfield held Joint Services Review, Sept 1.
  • Lt. Col. Joseph J. Chaves
  • HONOR ROLL UNVEILED -- Gov. Linda Lingle, Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves and Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee unveil the 29th Brigade Combat Team’s Operation IRAQI FREEDOM memorial, Nov. 5, 2006. Sgt. 1st Class Curtis H. Matsushige photo
  • HAWAII’S OWN – Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves, Hawaii Army National Guard and 29th Brigade Combat Team commander, leads the Hawaii Guard Soldiers through Waikiki at the United Service Organization’s “Salute to the Troops” parade, May 2006. Sgt. 1st Class Wayne T. Iha photo
  • D-DAY PLANS SHARED - Lt. Col. Mark E. Logan, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade's operation officer, uses the sand table to brief Brig. Gen. Samuel Thompson Ill, Fort Polk and Joint Readiness Training Center commander; Col. Joseph J. Chaves, brigade deputy commander; and Brig. Gen. Dennis A. Kamimura, Brigade commander, while going over the battle plan at the Intermediate Staging Base, Alexandria, La., in June 1999. - Spc. Wendy R. Cook photo

Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves is the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific. He assumed this position on June 1, 2010. Prior to this assignment General Chaves served as the Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Hawaii National Guard.

Chaves enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in Aug. 2, 1970. He earned his commission as a Second Lieutenant from the Hawaii Military Academy in Aug. 17, 1973. Chaves has held a variety of command and staff positions within the Hawaii Army National Guard. He was activated for federal service on Aug. 15, 2004 and served as the Commander of the 29th Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004 – 2006. Upon his return from Iraq, he led the transformation of the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade into the newly configured 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

EDUCATION

  • 1974 University of Hawaii, Bachelor of Education, Health and Physical Education, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 1994 U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
  • 2000 University of Phoenix, Master of Science, Computer Information Systems, Phoenix, Ariz.

ASSIGNMENTS

  • 1. August 1973 – March 1974, Redeye Section Leader, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  • 2. April 1974 – September 1974, Scout Platoon Leader, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  • 3. September 1974 – May 1975, Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  • 4. May 1975 – September 1976, Heavy Mortar Platoon Leader, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  • 5. September 1976 – October 1976, Training Officer, 29th Infantry Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  • 6. October 1976 – September 1977, Executive Officer, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  • 7. September 1977 – October 1978, Commander, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 8. October 1978 – November 1978, Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Wailuku, Hawaii
  • 9. November 1978 – October 1980, C-E Staff Officer, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Wailuku, Hawaii
  • 10. October 1980 – December 1981, Commander, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 11. December 1981 – June 1983, Assistant S3 Air, 29th Infantry Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 12. June 1983 – August 1989, S3, 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 13. August 1989 – August 1990, Training Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 14. August 1990 – February 1993, Commander, 297th Supply & Service Battalion, Hawaii Army National Guard, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  • 15. February 1993 – July 1993, Logistics Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 16. July 1993 – October 1994, Temporary Additional Position, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 17. October 1994 – June 1999, Deputy Commander, 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 18. June 1999 – May 2003, Post Mobilization Chief, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 19. May 2003 – June 2007, Commander, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard, Kalaeloa, Hawaii
  • 20. April 2006 – May 2009, Commander, Land Component Command, Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 21. May 2009 – June 2010, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 21. June 2010 – Present, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Legion of Merit (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Army Achievement Medal
  • Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
  • Iraq Campaign Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass and ‘M’ Device)
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 14)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant ARNG 17 August 1973
  • First Lieutenant ARNG 16 August 1976
  • Captain ARNG 26 November 1980
  • Major ARNG 6 December 1984
  • Lieutenant Colonel ARNG 12 December 1988
  • Colonel ARNG 2 October 1994
  • Brigadier General (Line) ARNG 13 May 2004
  • Major General (Line) ARNG 1 June 2010

Last updated November 2010

Lt. Col. Joseph J. Chaves
Lt. Col. Joseph J. Chaves
(Picture from the 1989 July – September Pūpūkahi)

Lt. Col. Joseph J. Chaves is the new assistant G-3 and full-time training officer for the Hawaii Army National Guard. He was the staff operations and training supervisor for the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate).

Chaves is a 1985 honor graduate of the Command and General Staff College. He received a bachelor of education degree from the University of Hawaii in 1974. He and his wife, Paulette, have three children: Joseph, 10, Marie Louise, 8, and Daniel, 4.

– 1989 July – September Pūpūkahi pp. 6
Col. Edward L. Correa Jr. (center), commander, Troop Command, passes the colors of the 297th Supply and Service Battalion from outgoing commander of the 297th, Lt. Col.Joseph J. Chaves ( right), to the unit's new commander, Lt. Col. Kenneth M. Tenno (left), during change of command ceremonies, Feb. 7.
Col. Edward L. Correa Jr. (center), commander, Troop Command, passes the colors of the 297th Supply and Service Battalion from outgoing commander of the 297th, Lt. Col. Joseph J. Chaves ( right), to the unit’s new commander, Lt. Col. Kenneth M. Tenno (left), during change of command ceremonies, Feb. 7.
(Picture from the 1993 January – February Pūpūkahi)
STAR TREATMENT- Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves receives his star in June, from his wife, Paulette (right), and his commander in chief, Gov. Linda Lingle. Chaves commands the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team scheduled to deployment to Iraq early next year. Photo by Master Sgt. Stephen M Lum
STAR TREATMENT- Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves receives his star in June, from his wife, Paulette (right), and his commander in chief, Gov. Linda Lingle. Chaves commands the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Brigade Combat Team scheduled to deployment to Iraq early next year. Photo by Master Sgt. Stephen M Lum
(Picture from the 2004 April – September Pūpūkahi)

Oliveira Takes Command of Brigade

Oliveira takes command of Brigade
Oliveira takes command of Brigade
COMMANDERS' WIVES - Jeanne Oliveira (in white), Paulette Chaves and Judi Lee, head the list of families and friends in attendance at the change of command ceremony held in June.
COMMANDERS’ WIVES – Jeanne Oliveira (in white), Paulette Chaves and Judi Lee, head the list of families and friends in attendance at the change of command ceremony held in June.
(Pictures from the 2007 April – June Pūpūkahi)

June 23 began a new era for the reorganized 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as Col. Bruce E. Oliveira took command from Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves at the change of command ceremony held at the Kalaeloa headquarters.

“I … know that you will continue to shoulder the load, wherever you place boots on the ground to preserve the peace and freedom of our great nation.” — Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves

Chaves closes out his four-year command of the brigade while continuing as the commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard, where he has served since being appointed in April 2006.

The Brigade, which traces its roots to November 1947, was organized as the 29th in January 1959 under the command of Brig. Gen. Frederick A. Schaefer III. The unit was federally activated for service in Vietnam on May 13, 1968, with Schaefer returning as commander.

Thirty-six years later, in August 2004, the Brigade was again reorganized and activated — this time to support the war on terrorism for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, with Chaves in command and Oliveira as his deputy commander.

Oliveira, like Chaves, holds a degree in education, but unlike the general, was a traditional drill-status Soldier. He has taken leave from his Department of Education position to serve as the full-time commander of the Brigade.

– 2007 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 5