YCA

Welcome,

Deputy Director, George Espinosa served for 30 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring in 2012 as a Sergeant Major for Marine Aviation Training Support Group-53. He began his career in January of 1982 serving as an Administrative Clerk,  Administrative and Personnel Admin Chief, responsible for processing pay and benefit entitlements, promotions and evaluations manager, a travel claims processor and a military legal clerk as well as a military identification cards processor for active duty and military dependents.

In September of 1986, SgtMaj Espinosa he was stationed at Marine Corps Recruitment Detachment, or MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, where he attended Marine Corps Drill Instructor School. He served for the next two and a-half years as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, training recruits to become US Marines. He was a key factor in molding and shaping future Marines to love corps and country through training in military customs and courtesies, weapons qualifications, physical fitness, military uniform regulations, military history and traditions, drill and ceremonies, swimming, and military combat martial arts.

In 1998, SgtMaj Espinosa returned to MCRD Parris Island as a Senior Drill Instructor and Company First Sergeant, (1Sgt) where he was charged with leading, mentoring, and developing Series Gunnery Sergeants, Senior Drill Instructors, and Drill Instructors for our nation’s oldest fighting force. When his time at MCRD Parris Island was done, he moved to Kaneohe Bay Hawaii where he was stationed with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines where he served as the HQTRS Company First Sergeant. During the remainder of his military career, SgtMaj Espinosa completed multiple unit deployments to the Asia Pacific for bi-lateral training with host nations including Okinawa, Philippines, and South Korea. He acted as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Battalion Commander and the Company Commander, was responsible for training, supervising, and the welfare of the Company Headquarter Marines, the unit armory, supply, motor transport, communications section, and scout sniper platoon. He traveled extensively with commanders from various installations both CONUS and OCONUS, to visit deployed Marines; training, mentoring and leading enlisted Marines in accomplishing day to day operations, and deployment milestones.

Since retiring from the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Espinosa continued to serve his country with the US Department of Homeland Security and continues serving today as the Deputy Director of the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy at Hilo. As the Deputy Director of a program designed to train and develop "At-Risk"​ youth, he is responsible for the execution and management of all operations during the 22 1/2 week, quasi-military educational program. 

SgtMaj Espinosa has a legacy of service, which brings professionalism, dedication and commitment to the youth of Hawaii, producing fine, upstanding future members of our society. Embodying the core values and motto of the academy, he strives every day to Dream, Believe and Achieve!