Bruckbauer takes command of 673d ABW and JBER

by Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

7/2/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska  -- Service members of the 673d Air Base Wing and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson welcomed their new commander during a change of command ceremony at JBER Wednesday.

Air Force Col. Brian Bruckbauer, previously assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon as the Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, assumed command from Air Force Lt. Gen. Russell Handy, commander of the 11th Air Force.

Bruckbauer has served in the Air Force for more than 22 years prior to taking command of 673d ABW.

"My wife, Stacye, and I are honored to join the JBER team," the new commander said. "We are excited to serve in this great community and to experience Alaska."

The colonel entered the Air Force in 1992 through Air Force ROTC at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.

Bruckbauer has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., a Master of Arts degree in National Security Strategic Studies at the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, R.I., and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington, D.C.

He has served in a variety of joint and air staff positions including chief of Air Traffic Operations at the 722nd Operations Support Squadron at March Air Force Base, Calif.; Airfield Operations Flight commander at the 60th Operations Support Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.; at the Air Force Intern Program, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C.; chief of U.S. Air Force National Airspace System Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Flight Standards Agency at Andrews Air Force Base, Md; aide-de-camp to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force; political-military officer and executive officer to the J5/8 at European Command; and was the Operations Officer for the 56th Operations Support Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

"I am impressed with the dedication and service of the men and women under my command, and am thankful for the leadership of my predecessors," Bruckbauer said.

He has also served as commander of the 97th Operations Support Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; as deputy director of Force Planning for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; and as commander of the 451st Expeditionary Mission Support Group at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

"This event has been a wonderful welcome to JBER and the 673d Air Base Wing," Bruckbauer said. "To the men and women of this great installation, I am proud and humbled to be a part of this great team. I look forward to serving with you and to the great things we will accomplish together."