Marine Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, commander of Marine Fighter

Marine Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, commander of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, addresses his Marines in a hangar during a stop on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, en route to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 12, 2017. VMFA-121 is the first operational F-35B squadron in the Marine Corps, with its relocation to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Iwakuni. The F-35B was developed to replace the Marine Corps’ F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier and EA- 6B Prowler. The Short Take-off Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft is a true force multiplier. The unique combination of stealth, cutting-edge radar and sensor technology, and electronic warfare systems bring all of the access and lethality capabilities of a fifth-generation fighter, a modern bomber, and an adverse-weather, all-threat environment air support platform. (U.S. Air Force photo/Justin Connaher)