In the far north of Japan, tucked between mountains and sea, sits one of the U.S. military’s most strategically vital outposts: Misawa Air Base. It’s a place most Americans haven’t heard of unlike the better known installations at Okinawa or Yokota. But if tensions were to ignite in the Indo-Pacific, Misawa would be one of the first to respond.
The base houses the 35th Fighter Wing, a force of nearly 3,000 U.S. airmen, soldiers, sailors, guardians and their Japanese counterparts from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Together, they maintain and fly some of the world’s most advanced aircraft, including the versatile F-16C Fighting Falcon. At Misawa, technology matters—but people matter more. Every sortie is backed by layers of unseen effort: long shifts, high-stakes decisions, and a culture of unrelenting readiness.
Colonel MATTHEW R. “SWAT” KENKEL and Crew Chief
To understand what makes Misawa tick, we sat down with Colonel Matthew R. “SWAT” Kenkel, Deputy Commander of the 35th Fighter Wing. A veteran fighter pilot with nearly two decades of experience, Kenkel has spent almost nine years stationed at Misawa over the course of his career.
“I’ve been flying the F-16 since 2007,” Kenkel said. “Mostly in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission SEAD. It’s a complex role, but one of the most rewarding in air combat.” Originally inspired by his father’s small Cessna and a lifelong passion for aviation, Kenkel joined the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1998. After a stint as a T-6 instructor pilot, he moved into the F-16 drawn to its speed, flexibility, and combat capability. “I looked at the B-1 and the A-10,” he said, “but the F-16 could do it all: air-to-air, air-to-ground, SEAD. It felt right.” Misawa, he added, is unlike any other base in the Pacific. For Example, We are the snowiest Airbase in the US Airforce. “It’s the only joint U.S.-Japanese base with an operational U.S. fighter wing and a strong ally presence,” Kenkel explained. “We also have Navy, Army, and Space Force units. That kind of integration creates a dynamic, fast-moving environment.”
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon 90-0807/WW US Air Force (USAF) on its way to the runway for a training mission
That tight integration is critical to the base’s mission. American and Japanese forces train together constantly. Day-to-day operations demand not just coordination but real-time trust across nations and branches. “You’re flying missions where your wingman might be from a different country. That’s powerful,” Kenkel said.
Nowhere is that partnership more visible than in the SEAD mission nicknamed “Wild Weasel The Wild Weasel mission is a specialized U.S. Air Force operation designed to neutralize enemy air defenses, particularly radar and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. The concept originated during the Vietnam War in 1965, when American aircraft were being downed by Soviet-made SAMs. In response, the USAF created a unit of pilots and aircraft specifically trained and equipped to locate and destroy these threats. These missions were and still are incredibly dangerous, often requiring pilots to bait enemy radar into targeting them so they can strike back with anti-radiation missiles.
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon 90-0810/WW US Air Force (USAF)
Major Kenkel, described the mission’s intensity: “The Wild Weasel mission dates back to Vietnam,” Kenkel explained. “We go in first to suppress enemy surface-to-air missile systems and ensure our strikers can get in and out safely. It’s high-tempo, high-pressure, and mentally exhausting but that’s why I love it.” The role demands exceptional multitasking and battlefield awareness. In a single mission, pilots may engage enemy aircraft, take out SAM sites, guide strike formations, and monitor the entire combat zone in real time. “You’re not just flying a jet,” Kenkel said. “You’re managing an entire fight, air and ground. It’s a macro-level command in real time.”
McDonnell F-4C Phantom II 64-0679 US Air Force
Over the decades, aircraft like the F-100, F-105, F-4G, and now the F-16CJ have carried out Wild Weasel operations, with the F-35 set to take over in the near future. Despite changes in technology, the mission’s core remains the same: to be the first in, last out, and protect everyone else in the air. Misawa’s SEAD pilots are supported by an army of maintainers, logisticians, medics, civil engineers, and support staff. A pilot’s 90-minute mission might be the result of days of planning and round-the-clock aircraft preparation. “Our maintainers are world-class,” Kenkel emphasized. “I’ve flown hundreds of sorties, and I’ve never once doubted the machine I was stepping into.”
Base life is demanding but deeply rewarding. Pilots often put in 12- to 14-hour days, balancing flight operations with debriefs and academics. Maintainers arrive hours before takeoff and may work into the night. Logistics crews handle everything from fuel to munitions. Medics stand ready for any emergency. “It takes a whole base to launch a single jet,” Kenkel said.
And then there’s Misawa itself. “People sometimes think it’s remote,” he said, “but this is one of the best places I’ve ever lived. My family loves it here. There’s skiing, festivals, hot springs, baseball, amazing food, you name it.”
Colonel MATTHEW R. “SWAT” KENKEL arrives here at the Yokota Air Base Friendship Festival last May
The local Japanese community plays a huge role in that experience. Kenkel, who lived off base during his first tour, developed friendships that have lasted for years. “My kids went to Japanese preschool. We still have close friends in town. It’s more than just coexisting—it’s real community.”
That bond matters, especially as Misawa prepares for a generational shift: the transition from the F-16 to the F-35. “It’s a monumental effort,” Kenkel said. “We’re talking about infrastructure changes, new maintenance requirements, more personnel, more housing, new training pipelines. It affects every part of the base.”
The reward? A fifth-generation aircraft with unmatched stealth, sensors, and data fusion capabilities. More importantly, interoperability with Japan’s own F-35 fleet, which is already flying out of Misawa.
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon 90-0817/WW is the Wild Weasel Demo aircraft
“We’re going to be the best on the planet at fighter integration,” Kenkel predicted. “F-16s, F-35s, Japanese F-35s training together every day. That’s a game-changer.” From high-tech transitions to everyday operations, Misawa plays a strategic role in the region. “We’re the northern flank of U.S. presence in the Pacific,” Kenkel said. “Our job is deterrence. We train with allies so that if an adversary thinks about acting, they’ll see Misawa and think ‘not today.’”
Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon 92-3912 US Air Force (USAF)
When asked what advice he’d give to newcomers, Kenkel didn’t hesitate. “Jump in with both feet. Don’t hold back. This place has everything professionally and personally. If you show up ready to grow, ready to lead, ready to connect, you’re going to have one of the best experiences of your career.”
In Misawa, every jet that takes off carries more than weapons and fuel. It carries history, teamwork, and the quiet weight of readiness. And thanks to leaders like Col. Kenkel, that mission stays sharp every hour, every day, no matter the weather.
Colonel MATTHEW R. “SWAT” KENKEL on his way for the next mission
Photos and text Jeroen Vogelaar
I would like to thank everyone at the 35th Fighter Wing for making this article possible and for the fantastic day we had at Misawa Air Base.
