Brigadier General Joseph K. Kim

Posted on Jan 21, 2025 in 1990's, 2000's, 2010's, HING History

General Kim was commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering mechanics, and earned a Master of Business Administration from City University in 1990.

On active duty, he served as a T-38 Instructor Pilot, T-38 Pilot Training Instructor, KC-135A Evaluator
Instructor Aircraft Commander, Chief of KC-135 Standardization/Evaluation, and KC-135 Combat Crew
Training School Instructor Pilot.

General Kim joined the Hawaii Air National Guard in 1993. He served in various positions and has
commanded at the squadron and group levels. Prior to his current position, he commanded the 154th Wing, the Air National Guard’s largest Wing.

General Kim is a command Pilot with more than 8,000 hours of flying time in the T-37, T-38 and KC-135.

EDUCATION:

  • 1982 United States Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science, Engineering Mechanics, Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • 1990 City University, Master of Business Administration, Bellevue, Washington
  • 1996 Air War College, by Seminar

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. June 1982 – June 1983, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
  2. June 1983 – November 1983, Student, T-38A Pilot Instructor Training Course, Randolph Air Force
    Base, Texas
  3. November 1983 – May 1985, Instructor Pilot, T-38A, 86th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
  4. May 1985 – November 1985, Squadron Scheduler, 86th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
  5. November 1985 – January 1987, Instructor Pilot, T-38A/Runway Supervisory Unit Monitor, 560th
    Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
  6. January 1987 – March 1987, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
  7. March 1987 – August 1987, Check Pilot/ Upgrade Runway Supervisory Unit Controller, 560th Flying
    Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
  8. August 1987 – July 1988, Student, Initial Pilot Crew Training, Castle Air Force Base, California
  9. July 1988 – Apirl 1989, Aircraft Commander, KC-135, 7th Air Refueling Heavy Squadron, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas
  10. May 1989 – April 1990, Instructor Aircraft Commander, KC-135, 7th Air Refueling Heavy Squadron,
    Carswell Air Force Base, Texas
  11. May 1990 – November 1991, Assistant Chief, Standardization and Evaluation Tanker Branch, 7th Air
    Refueling Squadron, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas
  12. November 1991 – November 1992, Instructor Aircraft Commander, Combat Crew Training School,
    93rd Air Refueling Squadron, Castle Air Force Base, California
  13. November 1992 – May 1995, Pilot, KC-135, 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  14. May 1995 – May 1999, Current Operations Officer, 154th Operations Support Flight, Hawaii Air
    National Guard, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  15. May 1999 – April 2001, Director of Operations, 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Hawaii Air National
    Guard, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  16. April 2001 – November 2001, Commander, 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard,
    Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  17. December 2001 – June 2004, Deputy Commander, 154th Operations Group, Hawaii Air National
    Guard, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  18. June 2004 – May 2007, Commander, 154th Operations Group, Hawaii Air National Guard, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  19. May 2007 – May 2009, Vice Commander, 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard, Hickam Air Force
    Base, Hawaii
  20. June 2009 – April 2011, Commander, 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard, Hickam Air Force Base,
    Hawaii
  21. April 2011 – Present, Assistant Adjutant General – Air, Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 8,000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, KC-135 A/R
Pilot wings earned from: Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

  • Legion of Merit
  • Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Air Force Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Combat Readiness Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
  • Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
  • Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Service Medal
  • Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour
  • Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with Gold Border and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (Bronze Hourglass, M Device and Numeral 2)
  • Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  • Air Force Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

  • Second Lieutenant 2 June 1982
  • First Lieutenant 2 June 1984
  • Captain 2 June 1986
  • Major 20 August 1994
  • Lieutenant Colonel 6 February 2000
  • Colonel 30 June 2005
  • Brigadier General 17 February 2010

(Current as of June 2016)