Col. Martin L. Perez is the Commander, 374th Maintenance Group, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan. The group consists of two squadrons providing total maintenance support, including organizational and intermediate-level maintenance, for all assigned C-130J, UH-1N, and C-12J aircraft in the Department of Defense's only airlift wing in the Pacific theater. As the western Pacific airlift hub, Yokota Air Base provides mission ready forces and base operating support to guarantee U.S. forward presence and crisis response.
Col. Perez received his commission through the University of Arizona’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2004. He has served as Flight Commander, Lead Logistics Officer MQ-9 Program, Mobility Test Operations Chief Maintenance Officer, and Foreign Exchange Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force and Maintenance Operations Officer for the 849th and 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons. Prior to Col. Perez’s current position, the colonel served as Commander for the 982nd Maintenance Squadron, the 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and most recently the Deputy Commander for the 374th Maintenance Group.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, The University of Arizona, Tucson
2004 Aircraft and Munitions Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX, by correspondence
2004 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2010 Master’s degree in Business Administration, Touro University International, Cyprus, CA
2011 Maintenance Officer Intermediate Course, Sheppard AFB, TX, by correspondence
2013 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School, Nellis AFB, NV, by correspondence
2015 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2022 Air War College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
DEPLOYMENTS
December 2005 – Jan 2006 Operation DEEP FREEZE, Christchurch, New Zealand
September 2006 – April 2007 Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan September 2011 – October 2011 (Canada) Operation ALETA, Larnaca, Cyprus and Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2004 – May 2005, Assistant Officer in Charge, Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, McChord AFB, WA
2. May 2005– August 2006, Officer in Charge, Support Flight, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, McChord AFB, WA
3. August 2006 – August 2007, Munitions Flight Commander, 62nd Maintenance Squadron, McChord AFB, WA
4. August 2007 – November 2008, Accessories Flight Commander, 62nd Maintenance Squadron, McChord AFB, WA
5. November 2008 – July 2009, MQ-9 Program Lead Logistics Officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, CA
6. July 2009 – June 2010, Chief Maintenance Officer, Mobility Test Ops, Air Force Operational Test Evaluation Center, Det. 5, Edwards AFB, CA
7. June 2010 – June 2011, Exchange Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON, Canada
8. June 2011 – June 2012, Maintenance Flight Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON, Canada
9. June 2012 – June 2013, AMU OIC, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, ON, Canada
10. June 2013 – June 2014, Maintenance Operations Officer, 849th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
11. June 2014 – March 2015, Maintenance Operations Officer, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
12. March 2015 – June 2016, Maintenance Operations Officer, 54th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, NM
13. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 982nd Maintenance Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX
14. June 2018 – June 2021, Commander, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
15. July 2021 – June 2025, Deputy Commander, 374th Maintenance Group, Yokota Air Base, Japan
16. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 374th Maintenance Group, Yokota AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO Non-Article 5 Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2007 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Munitions Manager of the Year, Air Mobility Command
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 13, 2004
First Lieutenant June 13, 2006
Captain June 13, 2008
Major Dec. 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2019
Colonel June 1, 2025
(Current as of June 2025)