Daniel R. Hokanson

Daniel R. Hokanson (born June 27, 1963) is a four-star general in the United States Army who currently serves as the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau. Prior to that, he served as the 21st director of the Army National Guard. His previous military assignments include Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, deputy commander of United States Northern Command, adjutant general of the Oregon National Guard, and commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Just Cause. Hokanson assumed his current assignment on August 3, 2020.

Daniel R. Hokanson
General Daniel Hokanson 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Born	(1963-06-27) June 27, 1963 Happy Camp, California
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1986–present
Rank	General
Unit	National Guard Bureau
Commands held	Chief of the National Guard Bureau Director of the Army National Guard Oregon National Guard 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team 641st Medical Battalion (Evacuation Helicopter)
Battles/wars	United States invasion of Panama Iraq War War in Afghanistan
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit

Early life

Daniel Robert Hokanson was born in Happy Camp, California on June 27, 1963, the son of Bob and Diann (Kieffer) Hokanson.[1][2][3] He graduated from Happy Camp High School in 1980, and attended the College of the Siskiyous before being accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.[4]

Start of career

Hokanson graduated from West Point in 1986 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Aviation branch. During his time at West Point and the period immediately afterwards he completed: Level C Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Course; Aviation Officer Basic Course; Air Assault School; and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Flight Training (Aeroscout). He is also a graduate of the United States Army Airborne School.

Hokanson then served for several years as an aviator with the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California, including deployment to Panama for Operation Just Cause in 1989–90. In 1991 he completed the Aviation Officer Advanced Course and AH-64 (Apache) Combat Aircraft Qualification Course. He subsequently served with 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment at Fort Hood, including command of the battalion's Company B, and then served as a project engineer for the Aircraft Armament Test Division at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

Early Army National Guard career

Hokanson left the Regular Army in July 1995 and was a member of the Army Reserve Control Group until October.

Hokanson then began his career as a member of the Army National Guard, assigned initially as aide-de-damp in the office of Oregon's adjutant general. His later assignments included: operations officer, 641st Medical Battalion (Helicopter Evacuation); aviation operations officer, Oregon Army National Guard; plans analyst, Program Analysis and Evaluation Division, National Guard Bureau; executive officer, 641st Medical Battalion (Evacuation Helicopter), Oregon Army National Guard; deputy director, Army Aviation, Oregon Army National Guard; commander, 641st Medical Battalion (Helicopter Evacuation), Oregon Army National Guard; chief of staff, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V, Afghanistan; deputy commander, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard; and commander, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, including deployment as part of Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

Career as general officer

Hokanson being sworn in as adjutant general by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber

In 2010 Hokanson was promoted to brigadier general. His assignments as a general officer included: deputy director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command; and director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), National Guard Bureau. Hokanson was promoted to major general in May 2013. From August 2013 to July 2015 he served as adjutant general of the Oregon Military Department.[5]

In August 2015 Hokanson was selected for appointment as deputy commander of United States Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado and promotion to lieutenant general. He concurrently served as vice commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command.[6]

Hokanson's nomination for assignment as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15, 2016.[7]

Director of the Army National Guard

In March 2019, the president nominated Hokanson to succeed Timothy J. Kadavy as Director of the Army National Guard.[8] Hokanson assumed his new duties in a ceremony on June 21, 2019.[9] In June 2020, the Adjutant General of Minnesota, Jon A. Jensen was nominated to succeed him as Army Guard director.[10]

Awards and decorations

	Combat Action Badge
	Master Army Aviator Badge
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Air Assault Badge
	Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	National Guard Bureau Organizational Badge
	41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
	641st Aviation Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
	3 Overseas Service Bars

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit
	Soldier's Medal
	Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
	Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
	Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver Hourglass device and "M" device
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 2
	NATO Medal for service with ISAF
	Oregon Distinguished Service Medal
	Oregon 30 Year Faithful Service Medal

Assignments

1. July 1986 – July 1987, Student, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (Level C – Fort Bragg); Aviation Officer Basic Course; Air Assault School; Initial Entry Rotary Wing Flight Training (Aeroscout); Fort Rucker, Alabama
2. July 1987 – March 1988, Executive Officer, Troop B, 2nd Squadron (RECON), 9th Cavalry, 7th Infantry Division (LIGHT), Fort Ord, California
3. March 1988 – May 1989, Scout Platoon Leader, Troop B, 2nd Squadron (RECON), 9th Cavalry, 7th Infantry Division (LIGHT), Fort Ord, California and the Republic of Panama
4. May 1989 – August 1990, Flight Operations Officer and 3rd Infantry Brigade Aviation Liaison Officer, 2nd Squadron (RECON), 9th Cavalry, 7th Infantry Division (LIGHT), Fort Ord, California and the Republic of Panama
5. October 1990 – June 1991, Student, Aviation Officer Advanced Course and AH-64 Combat Aircraft Qualification Course, Fort Rucker, Alabama
6. June 1991 – October 1992, Assistant S3, 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment (Attack), Apache Training Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas
7. October 1992 – June 1994, Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment (Attack), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
8. June 1994 – April 1995 Project Engineer, Aircraft Armament Test Division, Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona
9. July 1995 – October 1995, Army Reserve Control Group (Ready Reserve)
10. October 1995 – September 1996, Aide-de-Camp, Office of The Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard, Salem, Oregon
11. October 1996 – September 1997, Operations Officer, 641st Medical Battalion (EVAC), Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon
12. October 1997 – December 1998, Aviation Operations Officer, Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon
13. December 1998 – June 1999, Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
14. July 1999 – July 2000, Plans Analyst, Program Analysis and Evaluation Division, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
15. July 2000 – June 2001, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
16. June 2001 – June 2002, Executive Officer, 641st Medical Battalion (EVAC), Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon
17. June 2002 – June 2004, Deputy Director, Army Aviation, Headquarters State Area Command, Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon
18. July 2004 – June 2005, Commander, 641st Medical Battalion (EVAC), Oregon Army National Guard, Salem, Oregon
19. July 2005 – July 2006, Student, Senior Service College Fellowship, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
20. August 2006 – July 2007, Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V, Afghanistan
21. July 2007 – March 2008, Deputy Commander, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, Portland, Oregon
22. March 2008 – July 2010, Commander, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, and Oregon Army National Guard, Portland, Oregon
23. August 2010 – August 2012, Deputy Director, J5, North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
24. August 2012 – July 2013, Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5), National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
25. August 2013 – July 2015, The Adjutant General, Oregon, Joint Force Headquarters, Oregon National Guard, Salem, Oregon
26. August 2015 – September 2016, Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
27. September 2016 – June 2019, Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Virginia
28. June 2019 – August 2020, Director of the Army National Guard, Arlington, Virginia
29. August 2020 – present, Chief, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia

Education

Hokanson is a 1986 graduate of the United States Military Academy, and received a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace).

In 2000 he completed a master of arts in International Security and Civil-Military Relations at the Naval Postgraduate School. In 2001 he graduated from the Naval War College with a master of arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. Hokanson completed the Senior Service College National Security Fellowship Program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2006. In 2011 he completed the CAPSTONE leadership course at the National Defense University.

Aviation qualifications

In addition to completion of the Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Flight Training (Aeroscout), Hokanson's aviation qualifications include:

• Rating: Command Pilot
• Flight Hours: More than 2600 (over 50 combat hours)
• Aircraft Flown: AH-64, OH-58, TH-55, UH-1, UH-60
• Pilot wings from: Fort Rucker, Alabama

Effective dates of promotion

• Second Lieutenant, May 28, 1986
• First Lieutenant, November 28, 1987
• Captain, November 1, 1990
• Major, October 30, 1997
• Lieutenant Colonel, July 24, 2002
• Colonel, August 2, 2006
• Brigadier General, December 22, 2010
• Major General, May 23, 2013
• Lieutenant General, August 15, 2015
• General, August 3, 2020

Family

Hokanson [11].

References

1. "Daniel R. Hokanson in California Birth Index, 1905–1995". Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com LLC. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
2. "Hokanson promoted to Brigadier General". Morris Sun-Tribune. Morris, MN. January 31, 2011.
3. "Major General Daniel R. Hokanson Leads the Oregon National Guard". Newsletter, Columbia River Chapter, Association of the United States Army. Portland, OR. September 1, 2013.
4. "Happy Camp Graduate Becomes Lt. General". Siskiyou Daily News. Yreka, CA. September 16, 2015.
5. King, Tim (January 23, 2013). "Dan Hokanson Appointed to Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard". Salem-News.com. Salem, OR.
6. "Maj. General Hokanson Promoted To Lt. General". Oregon Herald. Portland, OR. August 16, 2015.
7. "PN1669 — Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson — Army". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
8. Washington Report (March 12, 2019). "Nominations Would Mean Leadership Switch at Guard Bureau". NGAUS Newsroom. Washington, DC: National Guard Association of the United States.
9. Soucy, Jon (June 24, 2019). "NGB Vice Chief Hokanson takes over as Army Guard director". Army.mil. Arlington, VA.
10. "PN1947 — Maj. Gen. Jon A. Jensen — Army". Congress.gov. Washington, D.C. June 2, 2020.
11. "Obituary, Mary Rose Triplett". East Bay Times. Walnut Creek, CA. March 28, 2006 – via Legacy.com.

External links

• Biography, Daniel R. Hokanson at National Guard Bureau General Officer Management Office
• Biography, Daniel R. Hokanson at United States Northern Command

Military offices
Preceded by Raymond F. Rees	Adjutant General of the Oregon Military Department 2013–2015	Succeeded by Michael E. Stencel
Preceded by Michael Dubie	Deputy Commander of United States Northern Command 2015–2016	Succeeded by Reynold N. Hoover
Preceded by Joseph L. Lengyel	Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau 2016–2019	Succeeded by Marc H. Sasseville
Preceded by Charles Whittington (acting)	Director of the Army National Guard 2019–2020	Succeeded by Jon A. Jensen
Preceded by Joseph L. Lengyel	Chief of the National Guard Bureau 2020–present	Succeeded by Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by Charles Q. Brown Jr. as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force	Order of Precedence of the United States as Chief of the National Guard Bureau	Succeeded by Karl L. Schultz as Commandant of the Coast Guard