Gregory S. Martin

{{Infobox military person

|name=Gregory S. Martin

|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1948|4|24}}

|death_date=

|image=Gregory S Martin.jpg

|caption=General Gregory S. Martin

|nickname=Speedy

|birth_place= Fort Myer, Virginia

|death_place=

|placeofburial=

|placeofburial_label= Place of burial

|allegiance= United States of America

|branch= United States Air Force

|serviceyears=1970-2005

|rank= General

|unit=

|commands=Air Force Materiel Command
U.S. Air Forces in Europe
1st Fighter Wing

|battles= Vietnam War

|awards=Legion of Merit (3)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal (12)
Légion d'honneur

|relations=

|laterwork=

}}

General Gregory Stuart Martin{{cite book |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-108shrg23082/pdf/CHRG-108shrg23082.pdf |title=Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Second Session, 108th Congress |chapter=Biographical and Financial Information Requested of Nominees |date=2005 |pages=405–406 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=2021-06-01}} (born April 24, 1948){{cite web | url=http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=1673 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302003032/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=1673 | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 2, 2010 | title=Release }} is a retired U.S. Air Force general and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Martin was a command pilot with more than 4,600 flying hours in various aircraft, including the F-4, F-15, C-20 and C-21. Upon retirement in 2005, Martin took a position consulting for Northrop Grumman and also served on an Air Force panel studying stealth aircraft technology, among other Pentagon and private industry roles.

Military career

Martin was born in Fort Myer, Virginia in 1948, and graduated from the Landon School, Bethesda, Maryland, in 1966. After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1970, where he was a 1969 National Collegiate Parachuting champion, he went on to fly 161 combat missions in South East Asia, and then went on to train other pilots. In 1977, he received master's degree in business management from Central Michigan University. With this experience, he was tapped to command the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, then the 479th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, then the 33rd and 1st Fighter Wings. While earning several awards and decorations, among them the Distinguished Service Medal, he went on to serve as Vice Director of the Joint Staff's Force Structure and Resources Directorate, Director of Operational Requirements for the U.S. Air Force, and Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. Before finally commanding Air Materiel Command, Martin served as the Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Allied Air Forces Northern Europe.

In 2004, Martin was nominated to succeed Admiral Thomas B. Fargo as combatant commander of U.S. Pacific Command, the first non-Navy nominee for this prestigious post. However, he suffered collateral damage from the Darleen Druyun procurement scandal. During his October 6 confirmation hearing for the Pacific Command post before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCain asked how Druyun's deceit had gone unnoticed. Martin, who had worked closely with Druyun in 1998-99 while he held the position of Principal Deputy in acquisition said in response "I'm not an expert in contracting," and "I saw nothing that she was doing that was inappropriate or in any way illegal, and if I had, I would have immediately raised a Red Flag!."Gregg K. Kakesako [http://starbulletin.com/2004/10/07/news/story1.html General pulls plug on Camp Smith job] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050920075352/http://starbulletin.com/2004/10/07/news/story1.html |date=2005-09-20 }} Honolulu Star-Bulletin 7 October 2004 McCain replied, "Now I question whether you have the quality to command".George Cahlink, [http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1104/110504g1.htm Procurement scandal cuts short Air Force general's quest for command] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927005532/http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1104/110504g1.htm |date=2011-09-27 }} Govex, 5 Nov 2004 McCain called the Boeing deal "a national disgrace", and vowed to hold Martin's nomination in the Senate Armed Services Committee "until we get all of the e-mails and all of the answers." Committee Chairman John W. Warner supported McCain, and Martin withdrew his name the same day and returned to his duties as the Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command until his scheduled retirement in August 2005. Seven months later, Senator McCain completed his review of the e-mails and there were no indications that General Martin had any knowledge of Druyun's improprieties. Prior to this setback, Martin had been considered the likely successor to Air Force Chief of Staff John P. Jumper.

Post-military career

Martin retired from the Air Force on September 1, 2005. He is currently a chair of the [http://sites.nationalacademies.org/DEPS/AFSB/index.htm National Academies Air Force Studies Board], has served as an unaligned advisor to John Edwards' presidential campaign,[http://johnedwards.com/news/headlines/20070523-military-advisory-group Edwards Campaign Announces Military Advisory Group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606195817/http://johnedwards.com/news/headlines/20070523-military-advisory-group/ |date=2007-06-06 }} JohnEdwards 08 is on the advisory board of a consultancy firm The Four Star Group,[http://www.thefourstargroup.com/bios/gsm.html Martin bio], Four Star website. Retrieved 2010-12-27. is board memberDilanian, Ken, Tom Vanden Brook and Ray Locker,[https://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-12-29-durango-officers-mentors_N.htm "Colo. firm employs most retired officers from mentor program"], USA Today, updated 12/29/2009 8:34 PM. Retrieved 2010-12-27. and retired chairman of the Durango Group,[http://www.durango.usfalcon.com/Pages/Board.aspx Board page]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Durango website. Retrieved 2010-12-27. and has served in other Pentagon capacities and been a consultant to "many defense sector firms."

In 2010, the Boston Globe reported on the Northrop Grumman approach to Martin at his retirement in 2005 and the call "a few weeks later [from] the National Academies Air Force Studies Board, asking him to join a top-secret Air Force panel studying the future of stealth aircraft technology." Northrop Grumman is the manufacturer of the B-2 stealth bomber. Martin accepted the job offer and agreed to the Air Force Studies Board request. The article examined the claim that such dual retirement roles for Martin and other generals and admirals is "ethical and beneficial for America's defense." Martin asserted that for this study, the National Academies reached out to all of the major US Aerospace Defense companies to ensure that the study included not only Defense and Academic specialists, but that the latest development experts with regard to propulsion and aerodynamic to contribute to this landmark study. Seth Bonder, a fellow Pentagon panel member from the National Academy of Engineering, though, had not been made aware of the general's industry role during the two-year study and "said disclosure of potential conflicts would be desirable."Bender, Bryan, [http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2010/12/26/defense_firms_lure_retired_generals/?page=full "From the Pentagon to the private sector: In large numbers, and with few rules, retiring generals are taking lucrative defense-firm jobs"], Boston Globe, December 26, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-27. To clarify the National Academies process, it should be known that all study committee members must disclose their financial and business arrangements openly and verbally to the study committee members and in writing to the National Research Council (a sub element to the National Academies) before being allowed to participate in a study. General Martin's disclosures were completed and accepted without objection.

Education

1970 Bachelor of Science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1974 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
1977 Master's degree in business management, Central Michigan University
1978 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1979 National Security Management, by correspondence
1986 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
1987 Seminar XXI - Foreign Political and International Relations, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1991 Advanced Management Program, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Assignments

August 1970 - August 1971, student, undergraduate pilot training, Laredo AFB, Texas
August 1971 - May 1972, student, F-4 replacement training, George AFB, California
May 1972 - October 1972, F-4 aircraft commander, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
October 1972 - June 1973, F-4 flight leader, 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand
June 1973 - June 1976, F-4 instructor pilot, 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
June 1976 - July 1977, assignment officer, Air Staff Training Program, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
July 1977 - August 1978, aide to the Air Force Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
August 1978 - October 1981, F-15 instructor pilot and flight commander, 461st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona
October 1981 - August 1985, Chief of Wing Training, 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, later, operations officer, later, Commander, 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
August 1985 - June 1986, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
June 1986 - July 1988, Chief, Continental U.S. Bases and Units Division, later, Chief of Tactical Programs for the Air Staff's Directorate of Programs and Resources, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
July 1988 - July 1989, Vice Commander, 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
July 1989 - August 1990, executive officer to the Commander, later, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley AFB, Virginia
August 1990 - August 1991, Commander, 479th Tactical Training Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico
August 1991 - June 1993, Commander, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida
June 1993 - May 1995, Commander, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Virginia
May 1995 - July 1996, Deputy Director, later, Vice Director, Force Structure and Resources, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
July 1996 - January 1997, Director of Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
January 1997 - July 1998, Director of Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
July 1998 - January 2000, Principal Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.
January 2000 - March 2000, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe; and Air Force Component Commander, U.S. European Command, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
March 2000 - August 2003, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Allied Air Forces Northern Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
August 2003 - August 2005, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Flight information

Rating: Command pilot, master parachutist
Flight hours: More than 4,600
Aircraft flown: F-4, F-15, C-20 and C-21

Awards and decorations

140px

|US Air Force Command Pilot Badge

80px

|Master Parachutist Badge

80px

|Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon|width=60}}

|Defense Distinguished Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Defense Superior Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=60}}14px14px

|Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon|width=60}}

|Distinguished Flying Cross

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Meritorious Service ribbon|width=60}}14px14px14px

|Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Medal ribbon|width=60}}14px14px14px

|Air Medal with two silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Commendation ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Commendation Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=60}}13px14px

|Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and silver oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Combat Readiness Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|Combat Readiness Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon|width=60}}

|National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=AFEMRib|width=60}}

|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Vietnam Service Medal with service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|name=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=USAF Marksmanship ribbon|width=60}}

|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Air Force Training Ribbon|width=60}}

|Air Force Training Ribbon

60px

|Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm

60px

|Order of Valour, Knight (Cameroon)

60px

|Medal of Merit in Gold (Netherlands)

60px

|Légion d'honneur, Knight (France)

60px

|Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, 1st Class

60px

|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

60px

|NATO Meritorious Service Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=60}}

|Vietnam Campaign Medal

Other achievements

1969 National Collegiate Parachuting Champion
2002 Honorary Doctorate, University of Maryland
2003 Air Force Order of the Sword, U.S. Air Forces in Europe

Effective dates of promotion

Second Lieutenant June 3, 1970
First Lieutenant December 3, 1971
Captain December 3, 1973
Major September 1, 1979
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 1982
Colonel December 1, 1986
Brigadier General July 1, 1993
Major General July 1, 1996
Lieutenant General July 27, 1998
General June 1, 2000

References

{{USGovernment|url=http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6314|agency=United States Air Force}}

Gregory S. Martin

Military career

Post-military career

Education

Assignments

Flight information

Awards and decorations

Other achievements

Effective dates of promotion

References

See also