Hawaiʻi Army National Guard Commander
Brig. Gen. Damon Hogsten
Brig. Gen. Damon Hogsten is a native of Orange County, Virginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1997 after graduating from Bridgewater College, where he competed in collegiate football and baseball. Following three years of enlisted service, he commissioned as a Military Police officer on April 13, 2000, through the Federal Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. Hogsten served eight years on active duty before transitioning to the Army National Guard. He continued full-time service in the Active Guard Reserve program at both the state level and the National Guard Bureau. Hogsten is married to Jaime, his wife of over 29 years, who is also originally from Orange County, Va. They have two children, Nathaniel and Lillianne.
Hogsten has commanded at every echelon from company through his current assignment as Commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG). His operational deployments include service in Central America as Deputy Commander, Joint Security Forces, where he led security and force-protection missions supporting humanitarian-assistance projects throughout the region. He also deployed to Afghanistan with the 25th Infantry Division, synchronizing Military Police forces across the theater, including in support of Afghanistan’s first national presidential election.
In addition to federal deployments, Hogsten has supported numerous domestic response missions, including the 2012 Virginia winter storm and Hurricane Sandy. Most recently in Hawaii, he served as Joint Task Force Commander for the Kona Low storm response and directed statewide operations as the Director of the Joint Staff supporting Hawaii’s counties in response to Hurricane Lala.
Hogsten’s military education includes the in-residence U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., where he was recognized as a Superior Graduate. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff Course/Intermediate Level Education and Advanced Operations Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Military Police Captains Career Course and the Human Resources Management Qualification Course, and an Honor Graduate of Officer Candidate School and the Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course.
His civilian education includes a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College; a Master of Arts in Business Organizational Security from Webster University; a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bridgewater College; and a Graduate Certificate in Sports Management from Liberty University.
Hogsten’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters; Army Superior Unit Award; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3; Army Staff Identification Badge; National Guard Bureau Identification Badge; Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Basic Badge; and Air Assault Badge
Last update October 2026