Col. John D. Martin is the commander of the 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. He commands the largest operational B-1 group in the U.S. Air Force with one operational support squadron and two B-1 bomb squadrons. Colonel Martin maintains the combat readiness of the 28th Bomb Wing's bomber force for numerous worldwide and deterrent roles.
Colonel Martin earned his commission in 1992 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Georgia. Throughout his career he has served in a variety of key flying and staff positions, including 28th OG deputy commander, 34th Bomb Squadron commander and 37th BS director of operations at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. He also served as a 28th BS B-1 Flying Training Unit flight commander and the 7th OG lead for B-1 Block E integration at Dyess, AFB, Texas.
Prior to his current position, Colonel Martin served as Chief of the Air Combat Command Liaison Element at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Colonel Martin has received numerous awards throughout his career, the most notable being the General Curtis E. LeMay Award for the best bomber aircrew in the U.S. Air Force, the General Ira C. Eaker Award for the most outstanding airmanship in Eighth Air Force and Distinguished Graduate from the Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, R.I.
Colonel Martin is a senior navigator with more than 2,562 hours in the B-1B, T-43, T-37 and T-39. He has significant combat experience that includes missions in support of Operation Desert Fox and Operation Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Business Administration, Management Information Systems, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2005 Master's Degree, Naval Command and Staff College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
2007 Joint Professional Military Education II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (correspondence)
2014 Master's Degree, National Strategic Studies, Air War College
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1995 - January 1997, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, Randolph AFB, Texas and Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.
2. January 1997 - September 1997, Student, B-1 Flying Training Unit, Dyess AFB, Texas
3. September 1997 - January 2001, Instructor and Evaluator, B-1B Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) Instructor, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
4. January 2001 - March 2002, Mission Planning Cell Chief and Current Operations Flight Commander, 28th Operations Support Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
5. March 2002 - July 2004, B-1B Formal Training Instructor/Evaluator WSO, Flight Commander, Chief of Block E Integration, Deputy Chief, Plans and Programs for Block E Integration, 28th Bomb Squadron and 7th Operations Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. July 2004 - June 2005, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
7. June 2005 - June 2008, Exercise Action Officer, Training and Exercises Directorate, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii
8. June 2008 - March 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
9. March 2009 - April 2010, Director of Operations, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
10. April 2010 - April 2011, Chief of Plans/Programs, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
11. April 2011 - December 2012, Commander, 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
12. December 2012 - July 2013, Deputy Commander, 28th Operation Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
13. July 2013 - June 2014, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. June 2014 - June 2015, Chief, ACC Liaison Element, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2015 - Present, Commander, 28th Operations Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Navigator
Flight hours: More than 2,562
Aircraft flown: B-1B, T-43, T-37, T-39
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor device
Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with device
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Distinguished Graduate, Basic Communications Officer Training, Keesler AFB, Miss.
General Curtis Lemay Award - "Best Bomber Aircrew in Air Combat Command" - 1999
General Ira Eaker Award - "Best Bomber Aircrew in 8th AF" - 1999
Distinguished Graduate, Naval Command and Staff College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 13, 1992
First Lieutenant Sept. 29, 1994
Captain Sept. 29, 1996
Major April 1, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel April 1, 2008
Colonel June 1, 2014
(Current as of October 2015)