Jacksonville surgeon promoted to Major General in Florida Air National Guard

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (June 7, 2011) - Maj. Gen. Emmett Titshaw, Adjutant General of Florida, announced the selection of Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Joseph Kirk Martin, the current Air National Guard Assistant to the United States Air Force Surgeon General, and The Joint Surgeon, National Guard Bureau, for promotion to major general. Maj. Gen. (Select) Martin advises and provides recommendations, conducts courses and special studies, as well as reviews proposals on Air National Guard and National Guard Bureau matters of programs, policy, and operations.

Joseph Kirk Martin is promoted to the rank of Major General in Florida Air National Guard by his wife, Vicki, and Maj. Gen. Emmett R. Titshaw.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of Maj. Gen. (Select) Martin as both a leader and physician,” said Maj. Gen. Titshaw. “Kirk has again proven himself in a challenging position. His extensive experience, technical competence, and mature leadership demonstrate his readiness to serve at the next level. He is, without doubt, one of Florida’s best.”

Martin was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., and his education includes: a Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, from the University of South Alabama, 1971; Doctorate of Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, 1974; Surgical Residency, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., 1976-1979; Distinguished Graduate, Aeromedicine Primary Course, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, 1986; and graduate, U.S. Air Force Air War College, 1996, and Fellow in National Security Studies, Syracuse University 2009.

From 1995 to 1997, Martin served as Chief of Aerospace Medicine and Professional Services for the Air National Guard in the nation’s capital. Mobilized following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Martin was assigned to the 1st U.S. Air Force as Surgeon General. In this capacity, he managed homeland defense and civil support medical issues, reporting directly to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander. Martin has served in Operations Desert Storm, Northern Watch, Noble Eagle, and Florida’s Joint Task Forces Katrina and Rita.

In his civilian career, Dr. Martin is an Emeritus Surgical Oncologist at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida. He is a Professor of Surgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Martin is the author of numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.