3 MINUTES WITH MARCH’S NEW VICE COMMANDER, WILLIAM R. MARTIN II

  • Published
  • By SrA Micah Coate
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
March Air Reserve Base, Calif. --  

Meet March’s new Vice Commander Col. William R. Martin II. 

 

Martin, who came to us from Air Mobility Command Headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, has logged over 3,600 flying hours in multiple aircraft, and is more than willing to tell you the story of how he got the nickname “Perm.”

 

If you haven’t had the chance to meet him in person yet, take the next three minutes learning more about who our Vice Commander is, on and off base. 

 

HOMETOWN: 

Los Gatos, CA but born in Puerto Rico.

 

FAMILY: 

He and his wife live in Murrieta with their three children: a thirteen year-old daughter who is about to start the eighth grade, and a set of twins, a boy and a girl, going into the third grade. 

 

HOBBIES: 

He and his children are big swimmers and took every opportunity they could to be close to the ocean while based in Hawaii. Now that he is living back in California, he also plans to pick up snow skiing again, an activity his family enjoyed doing while stationed in Yokota, Japan. 

 

FAVORITE DUTY LOCATION: 

Yokota Air Base, Japan.

 

“My wife and I were sad to leave because of the people and the community there. My kids were sad because there aren’t as many sushi trains in the states.” 

 

WHAT HE’S MOST EXCITED ABOUT HERE AT MARCH: 

“I am excited about being back at a Wing. I much prefer being in an operational unit because there is a lot more direct interaction with the Airmen on a day-to-day basis than there is on a headquarters staff. And on a side note, I also get to fly!”

 

HE HOPES TO ACHIEVE:

Removing the biggest obstacles to achieving the March mission, which he says are money and manpower. 

 

“We have a very busy mission and we’re not manned like other bases. I think it takes aggressive leadership to get after those big topics. You might not be able to eat the whole elephant, but you can definitely bite off a big chunk of it.”

 

SPEAKING OF EATING...: 

Though martin loves eating black beans and rice due to being a kid in Puerto Rico, as well as sushi from his time in Japan, his all time favorite food is escargot. He said his mother turned him onto the french delicacy made from snails as a kid. However, if you invite him to a cookout he will tell you that his favorite food is chilli. 

 

You can read more about Col. Martin in his official bio here https://www.march.afrc.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/1893456/colonel-william-r-martin-ii/.