From Enlisted Airman to Major General: A Hawaiʻi Guard Journey of Purpose, Leadership and Service
In a recent episode of Na Koa Exchange, host Jeff Hickman spoke with Maj. Gen. Harris, former Hawai‘i Air National Guard commander, about a career that began with uncertainty and evolved into decades of leadership across the Air National Guard.
What followed was a candid reflection on mentorship, service and the unpredictable path of military leadership.
Harris opened the conversation by describing a young adulthood marked by uncertainty after high school and early college struggles. That uncertainty shifted when he met an Air National Guardsman who introduced him to the idea of service in the Guard.
“My initial motivation was just to get into something that had some purpose, had some structure,” said Harris.
What began as a practical decision quickly became a lifelong career.
As Harris moved through enlisted roles, technician work and full-time AGR service, he emphasized that growth came from exposure to unfamiliar opportunities.
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” said Harris. “You just have to jump in and see what it exposes you to.”
That philosophy guided his transitions from supply roles to maintenance leadership and eventually to command positions.
One of the most formative experiences came during technical training, when a senior NCO challenged him with a performance goal. Harris buckled down and studied, the results reshaped his perception of his own abilities.
“It taught me something about myself I didn’t know… when you work hard, you really can do well,” said Harris.
Across his career, Harris emphasized the importance of mentors and transparent leadership.
“Try to be the leader you would want to follow,” said Harris.
Harris’s journey reflects the long arc of service in the Air National Guard built not on a single defining moment, but on a series of choices, mentors and opportunities that gradually shaped a leader. His story highlights a central theme of Guard service: readiness is not just about aircraft and missions, but about people, developing them, relying on them and growing alongside them.
As he steps into the next chapter, his reflections leave a clear message for today’s Airmen and Soldiers: the path doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful, and leadership is ultimately measured by the people you serve and the trust you earn along the way.
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