Col Brian Anderson is the Deputy Commander of the 188th Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The 188 Wing consists of over 1,000 Airmen who provide airpower via the MQ-9A Reaper, Intelligence Analysis and Targeting, Expeditionary Medicine, and Full-Spectrum. Mission Support. Additionally, the Wing is the host for the Republic of Singapore F-16 Security Assistance Training Squadron and an F-35 Foreign Military Sales Formal Training Unit.
The colonel graduated from Iowa State University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems. He was commissioned at the United States Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla. His pilot training began in Milton, Fla., followed by advanced pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla. After earning his wings in 2005, he reported to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN (VQ-7) at Tinker AFB, Okla., for his initial training in the E-6B “TACAMO” aircraft. His first operational tour was with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VQ-3). There, he qualified as an Instructor Pilot, Mission Commander, and Mission Commander Evaluator, amassing over 1500 flight hours. As the VQ-3 Flight Officer, he directed the daily scheduling of all squadron flight operations and worldwide training. In 2009, Col Anderson transferred to VQ-7 as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Instructor Pilot. During this tour, he qualified as a B-737 Instructor Pilot, the E-6B Pilot Evaluator, and a Weapons Tactics Instructor (WTI). He directed advanced pilot training and standardization for all E-6B aircraft community pilots there.
In 2011, Col Anderson was selected to take the helm of the Navigation duties aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), which operated extensively in the Fifth and Seventh Fleets, directly supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The colonel returned to Tinker AFB in 2014 to serve as the VQ-7 Operations Officer, earning his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Oklahoma City University. In October 2015, he transferred to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Four (VQ-4) for his Department Head tour, where he served as the Training Officer and Operations Officer. In 2018, Colonel Anderson separated from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserve. He served as the Operations Support Department Head of the Navy Operations Support Center (NOSC) in Oklahoma City, Okla. He subsequently served as the USPACOM DET 101 Assistant Operations Department Head in Tulsa, Okla., coordinating the operational support of a 44-member Joint Operational Unit in support of Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. Colonel Anderson joined the 188th Wing and the Arkansas ANG in October 2019. He completed the MQ-9 Initial Qualification Training Course at Hancock ANG Base, Syracuse, N.Y., in 2020. Upon his return to Fort Smith, he focused on Continuation Training (CT), MQ-9 capabilities, and emerging RPA operating systems as the Director of Operations. In November 2021, Colonel Anderson assumed command of the 188th Operations Support Squadron. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the commander of the 188th Operations Support Squadron at 188th Wing, ANGB, Fort Smith, Ark. Col Anderson is on a military leave of absence from a major U.S. airline.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
2003 Officer Candidate School, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla. 2004 Primary Flight Training, Whiting Naval Air Station, Fla
2004 Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2005 E-6B Fleet Replacement Pilot Category I Course, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2008 E-6B Pilot Instructor Course, Tinker AFB, Okla. 2009 B737 Instructor Course, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2011 E-6B Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course, Fallon Naval Air Station, Nev. 2012 Surface Warfare Officer Advanced Ship Handling, Naval Station Newport, R.I. 2012 Ship’s Navigator/Quartermaster Course, Naval Station Norfolk, Va. 2014 E-6B Fleet Replacement Pilot Category III Course, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2015 Master of Business Administration (MBA), Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2020 MQ-9 Initial Qualification Training Course, Hancock ANG Base, Syracuse, N.Y.
2022 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
Assignments
- October 2003 - October 2004, Student Primary Flight Training, VT-2, Whiting Naval Air Station, Fla.
- October 2004 - July 2005, Student Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 32 FTS Vance AFB, Okla.
- July 2005 - January 2006, Student E-6 Pilot Training, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- January 2006 - February 2007, NATOPS Division Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- February 2007- August 2008, Avionics Division Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- August 2008 - January 2009, Flight Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- January 2009 - January 2010, Flight Officer / Fleet Replacement Pilot Instructor, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- January 2010 - January 2011, Training Officer / Fleet Replacement Pilot Instructor, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- January 2011 - January 2012, Pilot Evaluator / Weapons Tactics Instructor (WTI), VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- January 2012 - May 2014, Assistant Navigator (ANAV) / Navigation Division Officer, CVN-74, John C Stennis, Bremerton, Wash.
- May 2014 - October 2015, Operations Department Head, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- October 2015 - October 2016, Administration Department Head, VQ-4, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- October 2016 - May 2017, Operations Department Head, VQ-4, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- May 2017 - January 2018, Training Department Head, VQ-4, Tinker AFB, Okla.
- January 2018 - December 2018, Operations Support Department Head, NOSC Oklahoma City, Okla.
- December 2018 - October 2019, Assistant Operations Department Head, Naval Reserve USPACOM Det 101, Tulsa, Okla.
- October 2019 - October 2020, Pilot, 188th Operations Support Squadron, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
- October 2020 - November 2021, Director of Operations, 188th Operations Support Squadron, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
- November 2021 - December 2023, Commander, 188th Operations Support Squadron, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
- December 2023 - July 2025, Commander, 188th Operations Group, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
- July 2025 - Present, Deputy Commander, 188th Wing, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 3800
Aircraft Flown: T-34, T-1, E-6B, B-737, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Ensign (USN) Oct. 2003
Lieutenant Junior Grade (USN) Nov. 2005
Lieutenant (USN) Sept. 2008
Lieutenant (USN) Oct. 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 2019
Colonel Dec. 2023
(Current as of August 2025)