On March 21, 2013, the Marine Corps' first operational F-35B accomplished its first Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. The STOVL accomplishment is a key milestone of the F-35 program, representing the result of years of testing and development. 

Maj. Richard Rusnok, a test pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, performed the first short landing and takeoff as well as the first F-35B hover and vertical landing outside of a testing environment. Maj. Rusnok was accompanied by Lt. Col. Jeffrey Scott, VMFA-121's commanding officer, who flew a second F-35B as a chase aircraft. 

The development of experimental "vertical rising" fighters began as early as 1954, which eventually paved the way for vertical-landing aircraft such as the British Harrier. However, unlike the Harrier, the F-35B, equipped with STOVL technology, combines both vertical landing and long-range supersonic speed into a single unit, resulting in a stealthy and agile fighter capable of carrying advanced weaponry.