COLONEL ROBERT K. BRADY

Col. Robert K. Brady is the Commander, 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Mississippi. The 186th Air Refueling Wing provides over 1,100 personnel and eight KC-135R aircraft to Air Mobility Command for worldwide operations. Additional units include the 238th Contingency Response Squadron providing rapid airfield assessment, air mobility support, and initial command and control in austere environments, the 248th Combat Airfield Operations Squadron which is capable of providing Combatant Command scalable levels of contingency airfield capabilities across a multi- spectrum of operations, and the 186th Air Operations Group which provides First Air Force staff augmentation to support the homeland defense mission and deliver defense support to civil authorities during domestic events

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Col Brady enlisted in the Mississippi Air National Guard on July 11, 1992. He attended Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, with follow-on training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. After completion of training, he was assigned to the 186th Medical Group as a Medical Service Technician. After serving as an enlisted traditional guardsman, Col Brady was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science on April 20, 2001. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, followed by KC-135R Initial Qualification Training at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Following flight training, Col Brady was assigned to the 153rd Air Refueling Squadron as a KC-135R copilot.

Prior to his current assignment, Col Brady served in numerous capacities to include: Aircrew/Flight Scheduling Officer, Aircrew Standards and Evaluations Liaison Officer, Aircrew Standards and Evaluations Chief, Executive Officer, Director of Operations, Maintenance Group Commander, Operations Group Commander and Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center Commander. He is a Command Pilot with over 4000 hours in multiple aircraft including the T-37B, T-1A, MC-12W, C-27J and KC-135R.

Col Brady has participated in numerous operations worldwide, performing both aircrew and staff duties. These operations include ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE and NOBLE EAGLE. He also served as the Commander, 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam, in 2019.

EDUCATION

ASSIGNMENTS

1. July 1992 – March 2001, Medical Services Technician, 186th Medical Group, Key Field ANGB, Meridian, Miss.
2. March 2001 – April 2001, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tenn.
3. May 2001 – June 2002, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
4. July 2002 – November 2002, KC-135R Initial Qualification Training, Altus Air Force Base, Okla.
5. November 2002 – April 2007, Pilot/Aircrew Scheduling Officer, 153rd Air Refueling Squadron, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Miss.
6. May 2007 – September 2008, Aircrew Standards and Evaluations Liaison Officer, 153rd Air Refueling Squadron, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Miss.
7. October 2008 – September 2010, Chief, Aircrew Standards and Evaluations, MC-12W Project Liberty, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Miss.
8. October 2010 – December 2013, Executive Officer, 186th Operations Group, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Miss.
9. January 2014 – January 2015, Director of Operations, 153rd Air Refueling Squadron, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Miss.
10. February 2015 – March 2018, Commander, 186th Maintenance Group, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Miss.
11. March 2018 – May 2025, Commander, 186th Operations Group, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Miss.
12. June 2025 – July 2026, Commander, Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Miss.
13. August 2026 – Present, Commander, 186th Air Refueling Wing, Meridian, Miss.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command Pilot

Flight Hours: More than 4000