Major General Hiroaki Sakanashi

Director General of the Project Promotion Group for Emerging Domains and Programs Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Major General SAKANASHI Hiroaki is the Director General, Defense Planning and Policy Department (A5/6/8), Air Staff Office (ASO), Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force). He leads defense plans and programs of the Koku-Jieitai to include defense cooperation and exchanges, weapons system programs, space security, cybersecurity, C4 systems, civil engineering and F-35 program.

He was commissioned in the Koku-Jieitai after graduating from National Defense Academy in 1993. Specializing in Communication and Electronics, he served multiple tours of duty as Vice Commandant, Air Command and Staff College; Commander, Northern Aircraft Control and Warning Wing; Director, Cybersecurity and C4 Systems Division, Defense Planning and Policy Department, ASO; a staff at Joint Staff and National Security Secretariat; and an officer dispatched to Marubeni Corporation.