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The Hawaii Air National Guard mark the expansion of its air defense mission with the creation of two new units.

State of Hawaii, Department of Defense, Public Affairs Office

Aug. 3, 2019 | 1:14

The Hawaii Air National Guard activated two new units today the 298th Air Defense Group and the 298th Support Squadron and reassigned the 169th Air Defense Squadron to the 298th Air Defense Group. This move is in an effort to better align the Hawaii Air Guards organizational structure with other Air Force organizations. The mission of the 289th Air Defense Group is to provide a means to detect, monitor, identify and Intercept airborne objects that may pose a threat to the Hawaii and Guam Air Defense Region. This is a full time mission that is actively engaged in daily operations, monitoring the air space in the Hawaii and Guam region.

During the ceremony Brig. Gen. Ryan Okahara, Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard assigned Col. Phillip Mallory as the Group Commander for the 298th ADG. Col Mallory then assigned Maj. Mariko Boone as the 298th Support Squadron Commander and designated Lt. Col. Daniel C. Wrazien as the 169th Air Defense Squadron Commander.

The Hawaii Air National Guard role in air defense goes back to 1956 when the 169th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated and operated out of Koko Head. In 1961, the 150th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated. It operated out of Mt Kokee on Kauai this unit later joined the 169th. In 1965, the coverage area was expanded to Mt Kaala. The 169th has since been redesignated as the 169th Air Defense Squadron and has an expanded air defense mission. Today the 169th effectively became its own group with two squadrons.