On a breezy day in Kalaeloa, local soldiers and airmen joined Hawaii’s governor for a smooth display of power succession over the state’s National Guard, which remains a key emergency-management force.
A color guard marched, the 111th Army Band played, top officials gave speeches, and with Sunday’s ceremony done, Brig. Gen. Arthur "Joe" Logan formally took command of Hawaii’s 5,500 or so Air and Army National Guard troops as the state’s new adjutant general. He’ll be responsible for the guard’s training and readiness.
Logan, whom Gov. David Ige appointed to the Cabinet-level position, also now serves as director of the state’s Emergency Management Agency and as Ige’s homeland security adviser. He succeeds Maj. Gen. Darryll Wong, who served four years as adjutant general under former Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
The Hawaii National Guard plays a particularly important role in the remote island-chain state, Logan said Sunday after the change of command ceremony, which took place at the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Readiness Center in front of 200 to 300 soldiers and airmen. Unlike other states, Hawaii is isolated when an emergency or disaster strikes.
"We’re here by ourselves," he said. "We are who’s going to take care of each other. If we can establish resiliency through the state of Hawaii from the individual citizen all the way up to the state … then we’ll be that much better prepared to survive any disaster, a large disaster that hits Hawaii."
The Hawaii National Guard further plays a unique role in international relations, collaborating on emergency management planning with Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan, Wong said.
Wong called climate change and cyberattacks two of the biggest challenges that he encountered during his tenure.
"The future’s always changing and our threats are changing," he said.
Other elected officials attending included U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Takai was in uniform and serving in his National Guard capacity.
The state’s Department of Defense encompasses a unique mix of state and federal government elements, a Hawaii National Guard spokesman said, and the governor appoints the adjutant general because it’s the governor who generally deploys the National Guard.
Logan said that getting the department’s Homeland Security office established and "viable" would be one of his biggest challenges.
"It’s getting there but it’s still new," he said. "We’re trying to get funding."
