• Source: Shigeru Iwasaki

      • Shigeru Iwasaki (岩崎茂, Iwasaki Shigeru, born February 3, 1953) was the 4th Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. A four-star General from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Iwasaki was the highest-ranking military officer in Japan and ranked third in the overall chain of command (after the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense).


      Career



      Iwasaki was born and raised in Iwate Prefecture and attended Morioka Third High School. He attended the National Defense Academy of Japan, graduating into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 1975. He is trained to fly the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Japan's primary jet fighter.
      In August 1991, then-Lieutenant Colonel Iwasaki took command of the 201st Tactical Fighter Squadron. In December 1997, then-Colonel Iwasaki took command of the 7th Air Wing. In January 2001, then-Major General Iwasaki took command of the 2nd Air Wing.
      In December 2010, General Iwasaki became the 31st Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. As Chief of Staff, he spearheaded the effort to procure the fifth generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
      In January 2012, General Iwasaki was promoted to be Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff, becoming the highest-ranking official in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He replaced GSDF General Ryuichi Ariki, and his Vice Chief of Staff was Kōichi Isobe. He has presided over a number of significant national security issues, including the renewed Senkaku Islands dispute and the possible revision of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution (following the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide electoral victory in December 2012).
      In 2015 he was appointed an honorary Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, for his role in enhancing defence engagement and practical co-operation between Australia and Japan.


      Awards


      Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (1st class)
      Legion of Merit (Commander)
      - Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division)


      = Defensive memorial cordons

      =
      5th Defensive Memorial Cordon
      2nd Defensive Memorial Cordon
      3rd Defensive Memorial Cordon
      9th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 silver cherry blossom
      11th Defensive Memorial Cordon
      13th Defensive Memorial Cordon
      14th Defensive Memorial Cordon
      19th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 silver cherry blossom
      20th Defensive Memorial Cordon
      21st Defensive Memorial Cordon
      22nd Defensive Memorial Cordon
      26th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 2 gold cherry blossoms
      32nd Defensive Memorial Cordon
      33rd Defensive Memorial Cordon
      36th Defensive Memorial Cordon
      41st Defensive Memorial Cordon with 2 silver cherry blossoms


      References




      External links

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