Colonel Brian Anderson is the Commander of the 188th Operations Group, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The 188th Operations Group provides geographic combatant commanders with persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Kinetic Strike, Close Air Support, and Air Interdiction with the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. Colonel Anderson leads two squadrons and a range detachment comprised of more than 220 Airmen who fly, analyze, maintain, and provide all direct support sustaining 24/7 combat operations at Ebbing ANGB.
Colonel Anderson graduated from Iowa State University in 2002 with a bachelors 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, Colonel 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, Colonel 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.
Colonel Anderson 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 Air National Guard 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 Operation Support Squadron; in December 2023, he took command of the 188th Operations Group. He is a command pilot with 3800 flight hours in the T-34C, T-1A, B-737, E-6B “Mercury,” and the MQ-9 “Reaper.”
Lt 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.
2005 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 Masters 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
1. October 2003 - October 2004, Student Primary Flight Training, VT-2, Whiting Naval Air Station, Fla.
2. October 2004 - July 2005, Student Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 32 FTS Vance AFB, Okla.
3. July 2005 - January 2006, Student E-6 Pilot Training, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
4. January 2006 - February 2007, NATOPS Division Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
5. February 2007- August 2008, Avionics Division Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
6. August 2008 - January 2009, Flight Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
7. January 2009 - January 2010, Flight Officer / Fleet Replacement Pilot Instructor, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
8. January 2010 - January 2011, Training Officer / Fleet Replacement Pilot Instructor, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
9. January 2011 - January 2012, Pilot Evaluator / Weapons Tactics Instructor (WTI), VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
10. January 2012 - May 2014, Assistant Navigator (ANAV) / Navigation Division Officer, CVN-74, John C Stennis, Bremerton, Wash.
11. May 2014 - October 2015, Operations Department Head, VQ-7, Tinker AFB, Okla.
12. October 2015 - October 2016, Administration Department Head, VQ-4, Tinker AFB, Okla.
13. October 2016 - May 2017, Operations Department Head, VQ-4, Tinker AFB, Okla.
14. May 2017 - January 2018, Training Department Head, VQ-4, Tinker AFB, Okla.
15. January 2018 - December 2018, Operations Support Department Head, NOSC Oklahoma City, Okla.
16. December 2018 - October 2019, Assistant Operations Department Head, Naval Reserve USPACOM Det 101, Tulsa, Okla.
17. October 2019 - October 2020, Pilot, 188th Operations Support Squadron, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
18. October 2020 - November 2021, Director of Operations, 188th Operations Support Squadron, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
19. November 2021 – December 2023, Commander, 188th Operations Support Squadron, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
20. December 2023 – Present, Commander, 188th Operations Group, Ebbing ANGB, Ark.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: 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 (Five Awards)
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Two Awards)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Ensign (USN) October 2003
Lieutenant Junior Grade (USN) November 2005 Lieutenant (USN) September 2008
Lieutenant Commander (USN) October 2014
Lieutenant Colonel (ANG) October 2019
Colonel (ANG) December 2023
(Current as of February 2024)