Haruhiko Kataoka

Haruhiko Kataoka (片岡晴彦) is the 32nd and current Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the de facto air force of Japan.

Career
Kataoka was born and raised in Sapporo, Hokkaido. He attended the National Defense Academy of Japan, graduating into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 1976. He has held numerous command positions in his career, including within the 4th Air Wing and the Air Staff Office.

In 2001, then-Major General Kataoka took command of the JASDF Air Development and Test Command. One year later, he took command of the 8th Air Wing.

In 2007, then-Lieutenant General Kataoka took command of the JASDF Central Air Defense Force. Two years later, in 2009, he took command of JASDF Air Training Command. In 2010, he became commander of Air Defence Command. He served in this position at the time of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and subsequently became the Air Component Commander of Joint Task Force - Tohoku.

In January 2012, he became the Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, replacing Shigeru Iwasaki who was promoted to be Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Council.