Hawaii Governor Appoints Taxation, Health Directors

ige-david-hawaii-357.jpg

LOS ANGELES — Hawaii Gov. David Ige nominated Joseph Kim to be deputy director of the state's department of taxation.

Kim and Keith Yamamoto, who has been appointed to remain in his current position as the first deputy director of the Department of Health, were nominated on Feb. 13. The positions are subject to Senate confirmation.

Yamamoto has held the position since March 2011, where he oversees the general administration of the department which includes budget, fiscal, and facilities management.

Kim, a brigadier general, has served as deputy adjutant General, deputy Commander, Hawaii National Guard since 2011. He ran the guard's day-to-day operations for the State Department of Defense.

Prior to that, he commanded the Air National Guard's largest wing, a combat-ready 1,900 person flying organization consisting of three major flying systems and associated support organizations, supporting over 2,500 personnel. He has trained military pilots and aircrews in various locations throughout the United States.

He earned an MBA at the City University of Seattle and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Mechanics.

"I'm glad that General Kim has agreed to continue to serve the State of Hawaii," said Governor David Ige. "I'm confident that he will be able to translate his outstanding military record into exceptional results at the Department of Taxation."

Yamamoto received a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Services from the University of Northern Colorado, and graduated from Pearl City High School.

"Keith Yamamoto has been a valuable leader within the Department of Health," Ige said. "He is well respected and has shown he has the skills to move the department forward. I'm pleased that he will be continuing to provide his steady hand to this administration."

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Healthcare industry Hawaii
MORE FROM BOND BUYER