Background
Kawano was born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture.
河野 克俊
Kawano was born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture.
He attended the National Defense Academy of Japan, graduating in 1977 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
He was promoted to four-star Admiral and assumed the position on July 26, 2012. He then joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, serving in a number of command and staff positions. In 1991, then-Commander Kawano took command of the JS Oyodo, Delaware-231.
In 1999, then-Captain Kawano took command of MSDF Escort Flotilla 3.
In 2004, then-Rear Admiral Kawano took command of the MSDF Sasebo District. In 2008, Kawano took command of the Mine Warfare Force.
His career was temporarily in jeopardy when a ship under his command, the JDS Atago (DDG-177), collided with a fishing boat and caused two fishermen to go missing. One year later, in 2011, he became Commander in Chief of the Self Defense Fleet.
– Order of Abdulaziz First Rate (at Lloyd's) Saud (Saudi Arabia).
