Lt. Gen. Jerry Martinez on Thursday took command of 5th Air Force and US Forces Japan, the Air Force announced. Martinez replaces Lt. Gen. John Dolan, who left in August to become the director of operations for the Joint Staff. Martinez, who received his third star in the promotion, previously served as the director of operations for Air Mobility Command. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in aircraft such as the C-17 and KC-135. He has also served as the deputy chief of staff for operations for Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…