Baylor alum named 3-star general, tapped to lead 5th Air Force in Japan

One of Baylor’s own is now commander of the service’s oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force, the 5th Air Force, based in Japan.

Lt. Gen. Joel Carey (BA ’92), recently promoted to a three-star general, took command earlier this week at a ceremony in Tokyo. The move was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in January, the latest promotion in Carey’s distinguished career since he got his start at Baylor more than 30 years ago.

His service has taken him all across the world, from Japan to Germany to Afghanistan (and more). Prior to this promotion, Carey served as chief of staff at Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. In his new role as 5th Air Force commander, Carey will oversee about 15,000 airmen and Defense Department civilians at three major installations in Japan.

Before he began his service to the nation, he fostered those interests at Baylor. A former Baylor quarterback under legendary head coach Grant Teaff, he majored in economics, was a member of the service fraternity Kappa Omega Tau, and prepared for the military as a member of Baylor’s Air Force ROTC. Carey comes from a long line of Bears, married a Baylor graduate, and has sent several of his children to follow in his footsteps at BU (and some on to Air Force service, as well). In 2023, he was honored as Baylor’s Alumnus of the Year.

“I think the Christian focus, the charter of the university, and the beliefs just provide a venue to get an education where the professors are clearly focused on character development along with the academic focus,” Carey told The Baylor Lariat at the time. “It was four years of just great mentorship and guidance that I had from a lot of the individuals that were on campus.”

Sic ’em, Lt. Gen. Joel Carey!