Hawai’i Army National Guard Command Chief Warrant Officer

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kevin Aihara became the fifth Hawai’i Army National Guard (HIARNG) Command Chief Warrant Officer on 1 October 2023. Aihara entered military service and enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 1994.

His initial assignment was with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29^th Separate Infantry Brigade as a Legal Specialist. In August of 2004 he deployed with the 29^th Separate Infantry Brigade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III as the Brigade’s Legal Non-Commissioned Officer.

In May of 2005 Aihara completed Warrant Officer Candidate School and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29^th Separate Infantry Brigade as the Brigade’s Legal Administrator.

In 2006, he was transferred to Joint Forces Headquarters as the Hawaii Army National Guard Legal Administrator. In October of 2009, he was hired into the AGR program where he was assigned as the J1 State Family Support Officer. In April of 2012 he was deployed with the 29^th IBCT Security Forces Advisory Team (SFAT) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Upon his return from mobilization, Aihara was reassigned to the 29^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team S1 as their Human Resources Technician. In 2017, he was reassigned as the Warrant Officer Strength Manager and Specialty Branch Strength Manager. He also concurrently serving as the 298^th Regional Training Institute Warrant Officer Candidate School Commander till 2021. In February 2018, Aihara was reassigned again and is currently serving as the G1, Systems Integration Branch Chief.