Brigadier General Keith Y. Tamashiro

Posted on Jan 21, 2025 in HING History, People

Brigadier General Keith Y. Tamashiro assumed duties as the Assistant Adjutant General and Director of the Joint Staff for the Hawaii National Guard on January 15, 2014. He serves as the principal advisor to the Adjutant General and is responsible for assisting the Adjutant General in formulating, developing and coordinating all programs, policies and plans affecting the Hawaii National Guard and its more than 5,000 citizen soldiers. Additionally. General Tamashiro manages the military functions of the Joint Staff and is responsible for the joint military programs that pertain to the command, control, operation and implementation of contingency plans for domestic operations. General Tamashiro is certified as a Dual Status Commander.

General Tamashiro was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Field Artillery on June 10, 1984 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He served on active duty from 1984 to 1988 at the 25th Infantry Division (L). In January 1989, General Tamashiro joined the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery of the Hawaii National Guard. He served as a Battery Commander, Plans Officer, Battalion Fire Support Officer, BN S3, BN XO and as a Battalion Commander while deployed as part of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning from the deployment, General Tamashiro was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff and then commanded two Major Subordinate Commands in the 298th Multifunctional Training Unit and the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. In his civilian job, General Tamashiro is the Unit Supervisor for the First-To-Work Program of the Department of Human Services assisting welfare recipients in obtaining employment and advanced schooling. He is married to the former Iwalani (Iwie) Kaninau of Wahiawa, Hawaii.

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

  • Legion of Merit
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal (with I Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Army Commendation Medal (with I Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with I Silver Oak Leaf Cluster)
  • National Defense Service Medal (with I Bronze Star)
  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with “M” Device and Silver Hourglass)
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
  • Air Assault Badge
  • Parachutist Badge

Last updated Aug 2015