Colonel
Taro
Murao
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Col Taro Murao currently serves as the Flight Group Commander of the 3rd Air Wing (Misawa Air Base) which operates F-35As. He was assigned as Chief of the GCAP Office, Defense Plans/Policies and Programs Division, Air Staff Office, JMOD. During this assignment he coordinated JASDF operational requirements with Italy and UK within GCAP Programme. Throughout his career he has over 2,000 flight hours, mainly on the F-15J. He previously was commander of the 204th Fighter Squadron (Naha Air Base), Okinawa. He earned his wing through SUPT in the US Air Force and he is a graduate of the US Air War College, the Republic of Korea Joint Forces Military University, and Osaka University.
Information provided is current as of September 2025
From the Author
Global Combat Air Programme
Mutual Defence Going Global
By Col
Maurizio
De Guida
By Col
Taro
Murao
By Grp Cpt
Bill
Sanders
The world is navigating a moment in history where geopolitical context has brought the return of nation-state level conflict, previously considered unthinkable by many. It reminds us that security should not be taken for granted [...]
