George Ka'iliwai III Director, Requirements and Resources (J8) U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Dr. George Kailiwai III is the Director, Requirements and Resources (J8), Headquarters, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (HQ USINDOPACOM).  As the HQ USINDOPACOM J8, Dr. Kailiwai facilitates the development of USINDOPACOM requirements for the Future Years Defense Program, translates those requirements into material and non-material solutions through advocacy, science and technology, and innovation and experimentation, and manages the headquarter’s $500M annual budget.   

Prior to his appointment into the Senior Executive Service in 2007, Dr. Kailiwai was a Senior Level and served as Chief Technology Officer and Technical Advisor, Air Force Flight Test Center from 2003 through 2007.  As the Chief Technology Officer and Technical Advisor, he provided the leadership and final review of the technical aspects of the center’s overall program, as well as consultant advice and technical guidance to the center’s commander.   

Dr. Kailiwai served honorably in the United States Air Force for 25 years.  From 2001 through 2003, he served as the Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and as the Technical Director, Electronic Warfare Directorate, 412 Test Wing, Air Force Flight Test Center from 1999 through 2001.  Dr. Kailiwai was also a Squadron Commander, and Deputy Chief, Regional Strategy and Policy Division, Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate, United States Pacific Command. 

Dr. Kailiwai is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, attended the California Institute of Technology under the Senior Commander’s Education Program, holds two master’s degrees from Golden Gate University, earned a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California, is a National Defense Fellow and RAND Research Fellow, and distinguished graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. 

Dr. Kailiwai is a United States Track and Field Federation All-American, International Society of Flight Test Engineers’ 2001 Kelly Johnson Award Recipient and Past President of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, recipient of the 2017 Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson Skunk Works Award presented by The Engineers’ Council, USAF Test Pilot School Distinguish Alumnus, and 2017 Presidential Rank Award recipient.  

(Current as of April 2023)