Courtesy Photo | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Brun (center), 292nd Combat Communications...... read more read more
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In a milestone moment for the Hawaii Air National Guard, an Airman assigned to the 292nd Combat Communications Squadron was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 on July 31, becoming the first Hawaii ANG member to be commissioned in the revived warrant officer program.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Brun, completed Warrant Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. He now serves full-time as a warfighter communications and IT systems operations officer for the 292nd CBCS, a geographically separated unit on the island of Maui, away from the rest of Hawaii ANG facilities. The squadron trains to maintain a high state of readiness to provide tactical command and control communications, to support a variety of operational requirements.
Brun’s journey to this achievement began at age 17, when, as a high school senior, he enlisted and embarked on a career path that led him to becoming an award-winning senior non-commissioned officer. Since joining the 292nd CBCS in 2013, Brun has undertaken more temporary duty assignments than he can count, completed multiple deployments and state activations - attributing much of his success to his mission-first mindset.
“Leaning into problems and prioritizing the mission above all else is where you truly learn and grow,” Brun said, reflecting on the experiences that shaped his leadership and technical expertise, preparing him to serve in this new capacity.
Warrant officers serve as highly skilled technical experts, bridging the gap between enlisted Airmen and commissioned officers. They bring deep subject matter expertise and advise commanders while staying closely connected to the tactical work.
Col. Mariko Boone, commander of the 154th Regional Support Group, said Brun was selected as the prime candidate to relaunch the warrant officer program due to his exceptional technical proficiency in expeditionary communications and information technology
“He has proven his leadership capabilities in managing programs and streamlining processes to improve this unit’s mission,” said Boone, “and he is a strong independent operator that is dependable and mature with a strong sense of ethics and self-confidence.”
While the Air Force stopped commissioning warrant officers in the 1950s, shortly after its inception, the Warrant Officer program reopened in 2024 for select fields – specifically cyber and information technology professions – to enhance technical leadership, making Brun’s achievement even more significant.
“The experience is very surreal,” Brun said. “Being the one and only -- there is a lot of pressure to succeed and be effective for the organization.”
From safeguarding information networks to integrating systems across units, cyber and communications have become an integral focus in modern warfare, with Brun's role ensuring Airmen can operate securely, effectively and decisively.
As one of the few selected to enter the program, Brun is blazing a trail that few Airmen have walked since the Air Force’s foundation.
“I wanted to give it a shot and see where I stacked among those that sought to earn the position,” said Brun. “Competition is great when it comes to selecting personnel for critical positions. I had been recruited by the Army numerous times to become a warrant officer but I always wanted to stay in the Air Force, specifically in Combat Communications.”
Prior to joining the Hawaii ANG, he was dually enrolled as a Civil Air Patrol and Army JROTC cadet, gaining early experience in planning, training and operations. He has deployed to several destinations in the U.S. Africa Command and supported the 31st Communications Squadron in Aviano, Italy.
One of his most unique military activations occurred in 2024, when he stepped into a leadership role during the Task Force Maui response efforts in response to the Crater Road wildfire. During this tireless assignment, he coordinated with local, state, and joint partners to respond to requests for support, providing much needed support to first responders on his home island.
Brun credits his preparedness to years of leaning into difficult problems, embracing the lessons learned from failures, and walking away from all challenges as a more prepared and capable Airman than before.
Whether in combat communications abroad or during disaster response at home, he said those experiences shaped him into the officer he is today.
“I am extremely proud of CW2 Brun,” said Boone, “His selection as warrant officer in the HIANG speaks volumes of his abilities as an Airman and leader. His proven performance and impeccable reputation as a technical expert and communicator will be instrumental in affecting combat readiness and mission success. Having warrant officers in the HIANG is a game-changer, as we can now further align technical expertise with operational effectiveness in this career field.”
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2025 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 548224 |
| Location: | MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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