Brigadier General Myron N. Dobashi 

Posted on Jan 22, 2025 in HING History, People

Brigadier General Myron N. Dobashi was appointed by Gov. Benjamin J. Cayetano as the commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) on May 3, 1999. As HIANG commander, he is responsible for overseeing the training and readiness of the Hawaii Air Guard with an authorized strength of 2,515 officers and airmen. The Hawaii Air National Guard has a majority of its assets located at Hickam Air Force Base, with other units at Barbers Point Naval Air Station, Wheeler Army Airfield, and on the islands of Maui, Kauai and Hawaii. The HIANG has dual missions. Its state mission is to protect Hawaii and its residents from mass violence, resulting from natural or human-caused disasters. Its federal mission is to provide trained units and individuals for active duty to the U.S. Air Force in time of war, national emergency, or as required by national security.

General Dobashi was born in Lihue, Hawaii, on August 1, 1943. He graduated from Kauai High School, Lihue, in 1961, and later graduated from Central Washington University in 1965, with a bachelor’s degree in history. His military education includes completion of Squadron Officer School in 1970, Air Command and Staff College in 1974, and National Security Management Course in 1984. He is a master weapons controller with more than 4,000 live intercepts and 1,800 tactical engagements. He has served as commander of two ground control intercept (GCI) squadrons and one combat communications group. He is also a communications-computer systems officer.

His military career began after receiving a commission in the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in June 1965 and entered active duty in September 1965. Upon completion of weapons controller training at Tyndall AFB, Florida, he was assigned to the 20th Air Division, Truax Field, Wisconsin, until July 1967. He then served on a one-year duty tour in Southeast Asia with the 621st Tactical Control Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. From July 1968 to February 1969 he was assigned to the 26th Air Division, Adair Air Force Station, Oregon. He completed his active duty tour at the end of February 1969.

Upon his return to Hawaii, General Dobashi worked for a defense contractor as an operations specialist at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Hawaii, from March of 1969 to 1970.

General Dobashi began his career in the Hawaii Air National Guard as a weapons controller in October 1969 when he became a traditional Guardsman with the 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (150 ACWS), Kokee Air Force Station. He then became a full-time air technician in March 1970. He served in a variety of key duty positions until he assumed command of the 150 ACWS in August 1988. In May 1991, he was assigned as the first commander of the newly formed 154th Air Control Squadron, Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands.

In February 1993, he became the deputy commander of the 201st Combat Communications Group (201 CCG) and the full-time detachment commander. He then assumed command of the 201 CCG in May 1996. He assumed command of the Hawaii Air National Guard in May 1999.

His professional affiliations include the Air Force Association, National Guard Association of the United States, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Retired Officers Association, and Hawaii National Guard Association.

He was promoted to brigadier general on October 29, 1999.

General Dobashi is married to the former Jean M. Togo of Kahuku, Hawaii. They have three children: Corey, Kyle, and Jill.

EDUCATION:

  • 1965 Bachelor of arts degree in history, Central Washington State College, Ellensburg, Wash.
  • 1970 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
  • 1974 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
  • 1983 National Security Management Course

ASSIGNMENTS:

  1. September 1965 – May 1966, division intercept director, 20th Air Division, Truax Field, Wis.
  2. May 1966 – October 1966, division weapons director, 20th Air Division, Truax Field, Wis.
  3. October 1966 – February 1967, division weapons controller, 20th Air Division, Truax Field, Wis.
  4. February 1967 – July 1967, division intercept director, 20th Air Division, Truax Field, Wis.
  5. July 1967 – July 1968, squadron weapons director, 621st Tactical Control Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
  6. July 1968 – March 1969, division weapons director, 26th Air Division, Adair Air Force Station, Ore.
  7. March 1969 – October 1969, inactive status (ISLRS), Headquarters, Air Reserve Personnel Division, Denver, Colo.
  8. October 1969 – March 1978, weapons controller manual, 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Kokee Air Force Station, Hawaii
  9. March 1978 – August 1978, air weapons controller manual, 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Kokee Air Force Station, Hawaii Hawaii Air National Guard.
  10. August 1978 – April 1980, A flight officer in charge air weapons controller manual, 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Kokee Air Force Station, Hawaii
  11. April 1980 – August 1981, air weapons controller manual, 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Kokee Air Force Station, Hawaii
  12. August 1981 – September 1984, officer in charge B flight ground radar operations, 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Kokee Air Force Station, Hawaii
  13. September 1984 -August 1988, air weapons controller manuel, 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Kokee Air Force Station, Hawaii
  14. August 1988 – May 1991, commander, 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Kokee Air Force Station, Hawaii
  15. May 1991 – June 1992, commander, 154th Tactical Control Squadron, Barking Sands, Hawaii
  16. June 1992 – February 1993, commander, 154th Air Control Squadron, Barking Sands, Hawaii
  17. February 1993 – May 1996, deputy commander, 201st Combat Communications Group, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  18. May 1996 – May 1999, commander, 201st Combat Communications Group, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  19. May 1999 – present, assistant adjutant general, air/commander, Headquarters, Hawaii Air National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

  • Legion of Merit
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal with one device
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with one device
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with ‘V’ device and six devices
  • Combat Readiness Medal with six devices
  • National Defense Service Medal with one device
  • Vietnam Service Medal with one device
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon – Short Tour
  • Air Force Longevity Service Award with seven devices
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two devices
  • Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  • Air Force Training Ribbon
  • Vietnam Gallantry Cross with device
  • Vietnam Campaign Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

  • Second Lieutenant Jun 12, 1965
  • First Lieutenant Jun 9, 1968
  • Captain Jun 9, 1970
  • Major Jun 12, 1979
  • Lieutenant Colonel Jun 12, 1986
  • Colonel Jun 14, 1994
  • Brigadier General Oct 29, 1999

Last updated July 2002