Col. Robert J. Martinelli, USAF (Ret)

The most important and long-lasting institution in Rancho Cordova history has been Mather Field which would become Mather Air Force Base and today is Mather Airport.

For 100 years, Mather has drawn people from around the country and the world. But as the old saying goes, people’s memories are good, but short. And that is what makes the contribution of former Mather Wing Commander Col. Robert J. Martinelli so important.

Col. Martinelli’s contributions to Mather have actually spanned more than 30 years. He first came to Mather during the Cold War to train at the beginning of his long Air Forcecareer and years later he returned as its commander to close it down when the peace dividend was paid in 1992.  

Col Martinelli had a distinguished career in the United Sates Air Force.

Bob Martinelli, who began his military career flying combat missions over Vietnam, later served in various command and administrative postings, including an assignment at the Pentagon. In the ’90s, with the Cold War over and Saddam Hussein defeated for the first time, the military began to downsize. During that time Martinelli oversaw a $200 million expansion of one base to accommodate the relocation of troops and equipment. Locally, he later supervised drawdown and eventual closings of both Mather and McClellan Air Force Bases.

Upon his retirement he Bob went to work with Sacramento City College as Vice President and chief financial officer. City College, one of four colleges in the Los Rios Community College District. The Los Rios system provides education, training and career development opportunities for some 80,000 students annually in over 70 career fields.

Today Bob is a member of the board of directors of the California Capital Air Show which is one of the largest and most respected airshow in the united states today.

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Col Martinelli and I hope you do too.