Hawaiʻi Army National Guard Commander
Col. Ronald (Damon) Hogsten
Col. Damon Hogsten is originally from Orange County, Va. He joined the U.S. Army in 1997 as an enlisted Soldier after graduating from Bridgewater College where he played collegiate football and baseball. After three years of enlisted service, Hogsten commissioned as an Army Officer (Military Police) in April 2000 by completing the Federal Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, Ga. Hogsten served as an Army Officer for eight years on active duty before transitioning to the Virginia Army National Guard where he continued active-duty service in the active guard reserve program. Prior to his current assignment in the Hawaii Army National Guard, he was stationed in Arlington, Va where he served as the G1, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau. Hogsten is married to Jaime his wife of over 28 years, who is also originally from Orange, Va. They have two children, Nathaniel (25), a Chemistry graduate from the University of Hawaii. Lillianne (22) graduated with a film and photography degree at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
Civilian and Military Education: Master’s Degree, Business Organizational Security Management, Webster University; Master’s Degree, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College; Graduate Certificate, Sports Management, Liberty University; Executive Education, Leadership in Homeland Security, Harvard Kennedy School; Bachelor of Science Degree, Psychology, Bridgewater College (VA). Military education includes Combat Medical Specialist Course, Mental Health Specialist Course, Drug and Alcohol Counseling Course, Officer Candidate School, Military Police Officer Basic Course, Conventional Physical Security/Crime Prevention Course, Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course, Military Police Captains Career Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Human Resources Management Qualification Course, Federal Strategic Planning Course, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Air Assault School, Intermediate Level Education (CGSC), Advanced Operations Course, Army’s Battalion Pre-Command Course, U.S. Army War College (resident), Institutional Pre-Command Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, and the Dual Status Commander Training Course.
COL Hogsten earned distinction as a Superior Graduate from the U.S. Army War
College (in-resident) in 2019. He was also the Distinguished Honor graduate for the Military Police Captains Career Course, Human Resources Management Qualification Course and Honor Graduate for Officer Candidate School and the Military Police Officer Basic.
Awards and Decorations: Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medals (8), Joint Service Commendation Medals (2), 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, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2), Army Superior Unit Award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons (2), The Army Staff ID Badge, National Guard Bureau ID Badge, ARNG Recruiting and Retention Basic Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
Previous Assignments: Platoon Leader, 463rd MP Company, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Deputy Commander, Joint Security Forces, Joint Task Force Bravo, Republic of Honduras; Aide-de-Camp to the Commandant, U.S Army Military Police School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Assistant S-3 for Operations/Battle Captain, TF Guardian, Combined Joint Task Force 76, 25th Infantry Division, Afghanistan; Assistant S-3, 25th Military Police Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Commander, 39th Military Police Detachment, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company United States Army Pacific, Special Troops Battalion, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Support Services Division Chief (G1), Fort Pickett, Virginia; Executive Officer to the Adjutant General of Virginia, JFHQ, Sandston, Virginia; S3 (Operations Officer) and Executive Officer, 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Attrition Management Branch Chief, NGB, Arlington, Virginia; Commander, Los Angeles Military Entrance Processing Station, 7th Battalion, El Segundo, California; Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Branch Chief, General Officer Force Management, NGB, Arlington, Virginia; Division Chief, ARNG Strength Maintenance, NGB; G1, ARNG, NGB; G1, ARNG, NGB; Commander, 298th Multi-functional Training Regiment (RTI), Waimanalo, Hawaii while dual-hatted as Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard, Kapolei, Hawaii.
Last update July 2026