Text/HTML

    

Colonel BRIAN J. PEARSON

Col. Brian J. Pearson is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He plays a key role in directing the Air Force’s $5 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise and an additional $1.4 billion in externally funded research and development across a 6,000-member government workforce, pushing the boundaries of modern technology for warfighter needs.  He influences strategies leading to the discovery and development of technologies for future warfighter needs.

Col. Pearson received his commission in 1998 through a Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship at the Virginia Military Institute. He has served in both Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) and traditional Reservist roles from 2012 to present. Before his service as an acquisition officer, he operationally flew C-130s and B-1s. He deployed to the Combined Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia and as aircrew in Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. He has a diverse background with experiences from assignments in the Combat Air Forces, Mobility Air Forces, flying training and life-cycle systems management.

Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Pearson was assigned as the Reserve Advisor to the Commander, Air Force Materiel Command.

EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va. 
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 
2008 Master of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Ariz. (non-residence) 
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (non-residence)
2019 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (non-residence)

ASSIGNMENTS
  1. June 1998 – March 1999, Special Assistant to the Commander, Reserve Officers' Training Corps Detachment 880, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington Va.
  2. March 1999 – June 2000, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, VT-86, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
  3. June 2000 – October 2001, Student, B-1B Formal Training, 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
  4. October 2001 – December 2003, B-1B Weapons Systems Officer/Unit Deployment Manager, 37th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
  5. December 2003 – November 2006, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training Instructor/Evaluator and Flight Commander, VT-86, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
  6. November 2006 – May 2009, Assistant Chief of Wing Scheduling/B-1 Weapons Systems Officer (WSO), 7th Operational Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas
  7. May 2009 – August 2012, Chief of Aviation Safety, Headquarters Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  8. August 2012 – March 2015, Weapons Officer/C-130 Senior Navigator, 910th Operational Support Squadron, Youngstown ARS, Ohio
  9. March 2015 – April 2016, Deputy Director, Crisis Action Team and IMA to the Chief of Safety, Headquarters Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  10.  April 2016 – March 2017, Chief, Strategic Plans and Transformation, Plans and Programs Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  11. March 2017 – June 2020, IMA to the B-52 Development Systems Manager, Fighter-Bomber Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  12. June 2020 – April 2022, IMA to the F-16 Senior Material Leader, Fighter and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill AFB, Utah
  13. April 2022 – June 2024, Reserve Advisor the Commander, Air Force Material Command, Headquarters Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
  14. July 2024 – present, Mobilization Assistant to the Air Force Research Laboratory Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior navigator
Flight Hours: more than 1,510 including 362 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-34, T-39, B-1B, C-130H

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters 
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster 
Air Force Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster 
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with two oak leaf clusters 
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster 
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze star 
Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal 
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant June 14, 1998
First Lieutenant June 14, 2000
Captain June 14, 2002
Major March 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2015
Colonel March 24, 2021

(Current as of July 2024)