News Search

News

USFJ Commander appointed as Director of Ops, U.S. Joint Staff

  • Published
  • USFJ Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John L. Dolan relinquished his command to Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Charles G. Chiarotti, Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan (USFJ) on Aug. 4 at the Yokota Air Base Officer's Club.

Dolan was appointed as the director for operations, J-3, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. He is currently serving as commander, USFJ, and commander, Fifth Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

During the relinquishment ceremony, Dolan took note of how the U.S.-Japan alliance has grown over the past year.

“Under the guidance of Defense Minister [Gen] Nakatani and the leadership of Admiral [Katsutoshi] Kawano, the Jieitai along with U.S. Forces Japan have made great advances in joint and bilateral training,” the general said. “For the first time, we have an established training program with Koukuu Jietai, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force for defense of the East China Sea.

"Nancy and I are going to miss the people here more than anything,” Dolan said. “The professional and personal relationships are the cornerstone of our alliance."

Maj. Gen. Charles G. Chiarotti, Deputy Commander, USFJ, will serve as the interim commander until a replacement is confirmed.

Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Chiarotti was assigned to the U.S. Marine Forces Europe and U.S. Marine Forces Africa as Deputy Commander. Maj. Gen. Chiarotti was subsequently assigned as the Deputy J5 Plans and Strategy and finally the Director J5 Plans, Strategy and Programs for U.S. Africa Command until his assignment to II Marine Expeditionary Force as Commanding General, 2d Marine Logistics Group from June 2014 to June 2016.

As the interim commander, Chiarotti will oversee the Headquarters' USFJ joint staff which administers unilateral and bilateral defense issues. Headquarters USFJ focuses on war planning, conduct of joint/bilateral exercises and studies, administering the Status of Forces Agreement, improving combat readiness, and enhancing the quality of life of military and Department of Defense civilian personnel and their dependents.

USFJ, with its U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy elements, consists of approximately 54,000 military personnel, 42,000 dependents, 8,000 DoD civilian employees, and 25,000 Japanese workers. U.S. forces are stationed in Japan pursuant to the U.S. - Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security of 1960.