Daniel R. Hokanson

Daniel Robert 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. He previously served as the 21st director of the Army National Guard. His previous military assignments include serving as 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.
Early life.
Daniel Robert Hokanson was born in Happy Camp, California on June 27, 1963, the son of Bob and Diann (Kieffer) Hokanson. 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.
Military 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.
Army National Guard.
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-camp 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.
General officer.
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.
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.
Hokanson's nomination for assignment as the 11th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15, 2016. He assumed office in November 2016.
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. Hokanson assumed his new duties in a ceremony on June 21, 2019. In June 2020, the adjutant general of Minnesota, Jon A. Jensen was nominated to succeed him as Army Guard director.
Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
In May 2020, Hokanson was nominated for appointment to the rank of general and assignment as the chief of the National Guard Bureau. He was confirmed by the Senate on July 20, 2020 and assumed office on August 3, 2020.
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:
Family.
Hokanson is married to Kelly M. (Triplett) Hokanson. They are the parents of three children, daughter Victoria, and sons Daniel Jr. and McKinnon. All three Hokanson children pursued careers in the military.