US SECDEF Indo-Pacific tour lands at Yokota Air Base
Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, salutes Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III after he boards a UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan, Camp Zama, Japan, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 31, 2023. Secretary Austin traveled to Japan to meet with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and other senior leaders as the United States and Japan take important strides to modernize alliance capabilities, optimize U.S. force posture, and build links with like-minded partners following the historic U.S.-Japan “2+2” Ministerial meeting earlier this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jarrett Smith)