Brigadier John Stephen Martin was commissioned an Armor Officer upon graduation from U.S. Army Armor Officer Candidate School Class 3-67, Company E1 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, 20 January 1967. His first duty assignment was as a Platoon and Executive Officer, Company A, 4th Battalion, 68th Armor at Fort Knox.

His subsequent duty assignments include: Student Officer, U.S. Primary Helicopter Center, Fort Wolters, Texas; Student Officer, U.S. Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Helicopter Pilot, Co. D, 10st Aviation BN, 101st Airborne Division, Republic of Vietnam; Platoon Leader, Co. D, 101st Aviation BN, 101st Airborne Division, Republic of Vietnam; Executive Officer, HQ Co., 101st Aviation BN, 101st Airborne Division, Republic of Vietnam; Student Officer, U.S. Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Section Commander, HQ and Service Co., Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Flight Commander, later Flight Instructor, HQ Co., Aviation Brigade, Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Duty assignments while serving in the Ohio National Guard include: Team Leader, later Platoon Commander, later Team Leader, Troop D, 1st Squadron, 238th Cavalry, Columbus, Ohio; Production Control Officer, later Commander, 1416 Transportation Company, Columbus, Ohio; Aircraft Maintenance Staff Officer, later Aviation Safety Officer, Headquarters Detachment, Ohio Army National Guard, Columbus, Ohio; Aviation Support Facility Commander, Headquarters, State Area Command, Ohio Army National Guard, Columbus, Ohio; Civil Affairs Officers, Headquarters, 73rd Infantry Brigade, Columbus, Ohio; Commander, 1st Battalion, 166th Infantry; Columbus, Ohio; Director of Aviation, Headquarters, State Area Command, Ohio Army National Guard; Columbus, Ohio; Regimental Commander, 107th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Cleveland, Ohio; Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters State Area Command, Director and Commanding General of the Ohio Army National Guard, Columbus, Ohio.

BG Martin is a 1965 Bachelor of Business Administration graduate of the University of Michigan. Military schools he attended include: Armor Officer Candidate School, Aviation School, Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course; Aviation School, Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course; Aviation School, Officer Rotary Wing Method of Instruction; Aviation School, Instrument Instructor Pilot; Aviation School, Instrument Pilot, UH-1; Aviation School, Rotary Wing Instruction Flight Examiner Course; Aviation School, OH-58 Instructor Pilot Course; Aviation School, M-22 Gunnery Course; Safety Center: Aviation Safety Officer Course; Aviation School, Instructor Pilot Night Vision Goggles; Armor School, Armor Officer Advanced Correspondence Course; Training Support Center, Army Aviation Command and Staff Officer Correspondence Course; Command and General Staff College; Training Support Center, Infantry Officer Tactical Refresher Course; National Guard Bureau, State Aviation Officer Professional Development Course; Armor School, The Armored Cavalry Regimental Refresher Training Course; National Guard Bureau, National Guard Bureau Executive Environmental Leadership Seminar; National Defense University, National Security Management Course, Department of the Army, Brigadier General Orientation Course; Department of the Army, General Officer Force Integration Course.

BG Martin's military awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal w/ "V" Device and 17 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal w/ Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal w/ Silver Star, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ Gold Hourglass Device, Army Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 60 Device, State of Ohio Distinguished Service Medal, State of Ohio Commendation Medal, State of Ohio Faithful Service Ribbon, State of Ohio Special Service Ribbon, Master Army Aviator, M-14 Sharpshooter Badge, .45 Caliber Pistol Marksman Badge and Tank Weapons Badge. Having served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, he is authorized to wear the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm and the Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal.

During his military career BG Martin was an instructor pilot on all models of the UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) helicopter, the OH-58 Kiowa, TH-13T Sioux and OH-23 Raven helicopters. Additionally, he has been a Dual Rated Instrument Flight Examiner and school trained Aircraft Accident Investigator. He has held FAA certifications as a FAA Flight Instructor for single and multi- engine airplanes and BH-204 and BH-206 Bell helicopters. Additionally, he has been a United States Coast Guard Licensed U.S. Merchant Marine Officer licensed to captain power vessels up to 100 ton displacement in commercial operations.

BG Martin has also served in numerous state and veteran organizations.