Story by Kyler Hood July 1, 2026 at 10:03PM When disaster strikes, Neil Fujioka is the “calm in the storm.”
Fujioka’s unflappable composure makes him well suited for his role as deputy emergency manager for Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH), where he helps direct risk mitigation, preparedness, and emergency response for all Navy installations across Oahu and Kauai.
“We're often thrust into action during the worst times, the most stressful times, and surrounded by people who are often very, very stressed out and on edge,” said Will Luna, CNRH emergency manager. “An emergency manager, being able to come into that situation and coolly, calmly direct action and get people on the right path is really what it's all about for us, and Neil exhibited that ability from day one.”
Fujioka attributes his calm demeanor to his nearly three decades of experience as a federal firefighter. “It’s a muscle I spent my entire career building,” he noted.<br /><a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/569224/firefighter-experience-helps-cnrh-deputy-emergency-manager-remain-cool-under-pressure"><img src="https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2607/9787672/250w_q95.jpg" width="250" alt="Firefighter Experience Helps CNRH Deputy Emergency Manager Remain Cool Under Pressure" /></a>
