Brigadier General Ryan T. Okahara

Posted on Jan 31, 2025 in HING History, People
Brigadier General Ryan T. Okahara

Brigadier General Ryan T. Okahara serves as the Chief of Staff and Commander, Hawaii Air National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii. As the Commander, General Okahara is responsible for strategic planning and oversight of over 2,300 military members in the 154th Wing comprised of three flying squadrons, an active air defense squadron, an intelligence squadron associated with the National Security Agency, an air traffic control squadron and two combat communications squadrons. He is also responsible for an air and space operations group integrated with the 613th Air Operations Center. General Okahara is dual-hatted as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

General Okahara received a regular commission in May 1990 as a distinguished graduate from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While on active duty, he completed Undergraduate Space Training at Lowery Air Force Base, Colorado and Space Operations Combat Crew Training at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado in 1991. He served in Air Force Space Command until he resigned his regular commission and left active duty in 1996. Upon leaving active duty, General Okahara entered the Air Force Reserve as an individual mobilization augmentee at Headquarters Air Force Space Command and also augmented the Air Force Reserve Operations Readiness and Plans Directorate in the Pentagon to provide space expertise.

In 1998, General Okahara relocated back to Hawaii and joined the Hawaii Air National Guard as a traditional guardsman. He served as the HQ HIANG Executive Support/Plans Officer, commanded the 292nd Combat Communications Squadron, and served as HQ HIANG Director of Plans and Programs, while simultaneously serving as HQ Pacific Air Forces Chief of the Force Structure Branch, Directorate of Plans and Programs, from 2005 through 2006. Prior to his current assignment, General Okahara commanded the 154th Mission Support Group, 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard, lauded as the largest and most diverse wing in the Air National Guard.

From July 2012 to January 2013, General Okahara deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FEEDOM and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa as the Director of Staff, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. He served as the principal assistant, advisor and spokesperson for the one-star wing commander of the largest wing in the Central Command combat theatre and provided support to more than 8,500 Air Force, joint and coalition forces and 25 tenant units including the forward headquarters for Central Command and Special Operations Command. He directed over 120 wing staff to coordinate all actions with the Host Nation, Air Force Central Command and Headquarters Air Force and managed time-sensitive action with rotational manpower.

EDUCATION

  • 1990 Bachelor of Science in Math and Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, Hawaii
  • 1992 Master of Arts in Human Resource Management, Webster University, St Louis, Missouri
  • 1999 SOS, by non-residence
  • 2002 ACSC, by non-residence
  • 2005 Contingency Wartime Planning, Maxwell Air Force Base
  • 2006 Air War College (AirWC), by correspondence 2014 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, by in residence
  • 2015 Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center, Security Studies Senior Executive Orientation Course, by in residence
  • 2015 Interim Guard Senior Leader Training (IGSLT), by in residence
  • 2016 Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM), by in residence
  • 2016 Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM), by in residence

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. May 1991 – July 1991, Student, Undergraduate Space Training, Lowery Air Force Base, Colorado
  2. July 1991 – October 1991, Student, Space Operations Combat Crew Training, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
  3. October 1991 – March 1993, Deputy Satellite Operations Crew Commander, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air National Guard Base, Colorado
  4. March 1993 – September 1993, Satellite Operations Crew Commander, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air National Guard Base, Colorado
  5. September 1993 – December 1994, Satellite Operations Crew Commander, Classified Location
  6. December 1994 – September 1996, Chief of Training & Standardization/Evaluations, Classified Location
  7. September 1996 – September 1998, Deputy Chief of Space Based Warning, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
  8. September 1998 – March 2003, Executive Support /Plans Officer, Headquarter Hawaii Air National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  9. March 2003 – May 2003, Chief of Operations, 201st Combat Communication Group, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
  10. May 2003 – October 2005, Commander, 292nd Combat Communication Squadron, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
  11. October 2005 – March 2010, Director of Plans & Programs, Headquarters, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  12. March 2010 – June 2014, Commander, 154th Mission Support Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, deployment; July 2012- January 2013, Director of Staff, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Qatar Southwest Asia
  13. July 2014 – January 2015, Assistant Adjutant General
  14. January 2015 – May 2016, Chief of Staff
  15. May 2016 – October 2016, Assistant Adjutant General, Honolulu, HI
  16. October 2016 – Present, Chief of Staff, Honolulu, Hawaii; dual-hatted, October 2016 – Present, Assistant to the Commander, 14th Air Force (14AF/CC), Air Force Space Command, Vandenberg AFB, California

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

  1. March 2010 – June 2014, Commander, 154th Mission Support Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, deployment; July 2012 – January 2013, Director of Staff, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Qatar Southwest Asia as Colonel

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
  • Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Combat Readiness Medal National Defense Service Medal with star device
  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
  • Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
  • Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon – Short Tour
  • Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon – Long Tour
  • Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
  • Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device
  • Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  • Air Force Training Ribbon

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant May 13, 1990
  • First Lieutenant Nov. 11, 1992
  • Captain Nov. 11, 1994
  • Major Dec. 2, 2000
  • Lieutenant Colonel Mar. 31, 2005
  • Colonel Jul. 8, 2009 Brigadier General Jul. 1, 2014

(Current as of May 2017)