Guard leader tackles new role

Brig. Gen. Joe Chaves, who took the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2005-06, has taken on a full-time job as director of the administration and support department for the Marine Corps Logistic Base Barstow, Calif. But he will remain as commander -- a job he assumed in 2006 -- of the Hawaii Army National Guard and will commute to Hawaii for monthly drills. Chaves relinquished command of the 29th Brigade on June 23 to Col. Bruce Oliveira after serving as its boss for four years.

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Five retired military officers have been invited by the China Association of Friendly International Contact to visit China in November. They are Lt. Gen. Allen Ono, Maj. Gen. Calvin Lau, Brig. Gen. Haruo Shigezawa, Col. Richard Wong and Col. Wesley Fong, who is also the delegation leader and past president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. Last year, Mayor Mufi Hannemann led the delegation. The association is composed of retired and incumbent senior government officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs, educators, artists and scholars.

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Capt. Michael A. Giorgione, who assumed command of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific June 8, received his first star as a rear admiral on Thursday. Giorgione was commissioned in 1981 through the U.S. Naval Academy and received a master of science degree in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1988. His last assignment was commanding officer of NAVFAC Southwest and Regional Engineer, Navy Region Southwest in San Diego. His new command at Pearl Harbor provides planning, design, and construction of shore facilities for the Navy and Marine Corps, and for other military services and federal agencies in the Pacific. There are about 3,000 military and civilian personnel throughout the Pacific, including Hawaii, Guam, and Japan, in his command.

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The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, chaired by Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka, will hold a series of hearings during the next two weeks beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Oahu Veterans Center at 1298 Kukila St. Other hearings will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. on Lanai at the ILWU Hall. On Thursday, the hearing will move to Maui beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Maui County Council Chambers in Wailuku. Friday's session will begin at 2 p.m. on Molokai at the state Department of Hawaiian Home Land's Kulana Oiwi complex at 660 Maunaloa Highway in Kalamaula. Big Island hearings will begin on Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. in Kona at the Keauhou Bay Sheraton Hotel at 78-128 Ehukai St. and at 10 a.m. Aug. 28 in the Aupuni Center conference room at 101 Pauahi St. Kauai's hearing will begin at 4 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Kauai Veterans Center.

MOVING UP

» Schofield Barracks: Col. Susan Davidson has assumed command of the 599th Transportation Group, relieving Col. Kathi Kreklow.

"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.