Col Gabriel C. Brown is the Deputy Commander of the 355th Wing, Davis- Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Davis-Monthan is one of the largest installations and flying operations in the United States Air Force, with five groups, 25 squadrons, 34 mission partners comprised of 46,000 personnel, 152 aircraft, and $51B in assets. The wing provides A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for close air support, forward air control, combat support, and medical forces for combatant commander requirements worldwide. Additionally, the wing provides personnel recovery combat search and rescue through the employment of HC-130J Combat Kings IIs, HH-60G Pave Hawks and Guardian Angel weapon systems, with units at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. and Nellis AFB, Nev. The 355th Wing is also responsible for training A-10C pilots for the entire Total Force and is the Air Combat Command executive agent for Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces and Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty compliance.
Col Brown entered the Air Force in 2002 after graduating from San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif. He is a helicopter pilot and has served in a variety of combat search and rescue positions during assignments in Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces. Col Brown has also participated in multiple contingency and humanitarian operations worldwide, including Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM SENTINEL, TOMODACHI, and Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. He also served as the Director of Operations and Commander of the 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. Recently, Col Brown was an instructor for the Leader Development Course at Maxwell AFB, Ala.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor’s degree in Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2014 Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College correspondence.
2015 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2023 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2002 - June 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
2. June 2003 - February 2004, Student, Helicopter Pilot Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
3. February 2004 - July 2004, Student, HH-60G Qualification Training, 512th Rescue Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. July 2004 - September 2008, HH-60G Pilot, Current Operations Officer, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
5. September 2008 - July 2012, HH-60G Weapons Instructor Pilot, Chief of Tactics, 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
6. July 2012 - January 2014, HH-60G Weapons Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 34th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. January 2014 - June 2015, HH-60G Flight Examiner, Assistant Director of Ops, 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. June 2015 - May 2016, Student, Army Command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
9. June 2016 - June 2017, Special Access Program Manager, USAFWC, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. July 2017 - May 2019, Director of Operations, 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
11. May 2019 - June 2021, Commander, 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
12. June 2021 - July 2022, Instructor, Leader Development Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2022 - June 2023, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. June 2023 - Present, Deputy Wing Commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3,219
Combat hours: 659
Aircraft flown: HH-60G, UH-1H and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seventeen oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal