Lieutenant Colonel Brian A. Gonzalez, is the Commander of the 717th Air Base Squadron, Ankara, Turkey. He is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the 20 acre Ankara Support Facility, and a multi-disciplinary squadron which provides 19 support functions to a variety of Department of Defense entities, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey, and multiple U.S. government agencies, totaling a supported population of over 1,100.
Lt Col Gonzalez, entered active duty as an enlisted Airman in early 2001 and earned his commission through Officer Training School in 2005. Initially a
Personnel Officer, he supported missions within Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces prior to his selection for Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (JSUPT). Following the completion of JSUPT in 2010, his flying assignments include operational tours in the KC-135E/R, C-21 and C-208 as a deployed Air Advisor to the Train Advise and Assist Command mission, Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Prior to his current position, Lieutenant Colonel Gonzalez was the Branch Chief for Eastern Europe, International Affairs Division, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa at Ramstein AB, Germany. While at headquarters he led a team of Regional Desk Officers in planning, programming and execution of Eastern European strategy and security cooperation initiatives for a portfolio of 26 nations. Lt Col Gonzalez is a Senior Pilot with more than 1,800 hours in the KC-135E/R, C-21 and C-208. His operational experience includes over 700 combat hours in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and FREEDOMS SENTINEL.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2009 Master of Arts degree in International Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2018 Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, Cal.
2019 Spanish Staff College, El Centro Superior de Estudios de la Defensa Nacional (CESEDEN), Madrid, Spain.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2005 – May 2008, Section Commander, 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
2. May 2008 – May 2009, Executive Officer, Eleventh Air Force, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
3. May 2009 – June 2011, student joint undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
4. June 2011 – November 2014, KC-135 IP, Scheduling Flight Commander, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
5. November 2014 – August 2017, C-21 IP, Assistant Director of Operations, 76th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein AB,
Germany (July 2016 – June 2017, Director of Operations, 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, Hamid Karzai
International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan)
6. August 2017 – June 2018, student, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, Cal.
7. June 2018 – June 2019, student, Spanish Staff College, Madrid, Spain
8. June 2019 – June 2021, Branch Chief, Eastern Europe, International Affairs Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in
Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
9. June 2021 – Present, Commander, 717th Air Base Squadron, Ankara, Turkey
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior pilot
Flight Hours: more than 1,800 including more than 700 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: KC-135E/R, C-21A and C-208
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 4, 2005
First Lieutenant November 4, 2007
Captain November 4, 2009
Major March 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2020
(Current as of July 2021)