FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii – The Secretary of the Army has appointed Brian S. Kamisato to the Senior Executive Service as the Director of Regional Business for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean Division (POD).
In a ceremony held at First Presbyterian Church, in Kaneohe on Jan. 23, 2020, Kamisato was inducted into the Senior Executive Service corps surrounded by family, friends, colleagues and other well-wishers. Kamisato held the position as acting director of regional business from 21 April 2019, with the official appointment taking effect 5 January 2020.
Brig. Gen. Thomas Tickner said of Kamisato “looking back over his time, it’s clear to see that Brian is the right leader for this job. Now more than ever before, we depend on forward thinking leaders, like Brian, to bring us to the next level in all areas of our mission. Brian will set actions into motion that will shape the way USACE delivers and integrates capabilities and solutions tomorrow and beyond. These actions will ensure the on-going protection and advancement of our Nation’s interests, while enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region for years to come.”
Kamisato brings over 33 years of experience in public service to the position, 22 served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he has held various leadership positions.
In his role as the Director of Regional Business, he leads the strategic planning, engineering and construction, resource management, and regional governance functions for a region that includes four districts in Alaska, Hawaii, Japan and Korea.
His sphere of influence extends over an area that covers one third of the earth’s surface, and includes the Indo-Asia Pacific region, encompassing approximately 1,700 active duty military personnel, U.S. civilians and foreign nationals.
Kamisato, a “local boy” who grew up in Waipahu and attended Mililani High School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, recently returned to Hawaii after 12 years off island. Prior to this, Kamisato served as the Military Integration Division Chief for the Northwestern Division, and also as the Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management at Fort Worth District. In addition to other notable positions, he also deployed to Afghanistan for six months as the deputy chief, Programs and Project Management Division, for the Afghanistan Engineer District.
In reflecting on his promotion to the Senior Executive Service, Kamisato said “I never had any aspirations to be a Senior Executive Service member. That was not a goal of mine.” He added that his priorities have always been faith, family, and career. With regards to his work, he says that “my goals everywhere I’ve served were to help people, to contribute to the organization, and make us successful.”
Kamisato says that this approach has helped to open many opportunities for him.
Kamisato expressed gratitude to teammates, leaders, and mentors who showed confidence in him, and gave him the opportunity to learn, grow and show what he is capable of doing. He also credits his time working at the district level where he faced some of his biggest and toughest challenges, for preparing him to assume the responsibilities of his current position.
Kamisato voiced special thanks to his wife of 33 years, as well as his family for supporting him along the journey.
He sums up his experience stating, “God has blessed me beyond measure by allowing me to come back to Hawaii and be close to my parents and other relatives, while doing a job that is a new challenge at an organization I love. The work that the Corps of Engineers does is important and is very closely aligned with the INDOPACOM and the National security strategies. I consider it a privilege and an honor to rejoin the Pacific Ocean Division ohana.”
Kamisato has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Hawaii and is a registered professional engineer in the State of Hawaii.
