Brig. Gen. Bryan J. Benson is Vice Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. As Air Mobility Command's sole warfighting numbered air force, 18th Air Force is responsible for the command's worldwide operational mission. With more than 43,000 active-duty Airmen and managing 1,300 Total Force airlift/air refueling aircraft, 18th Air Force is a streamlined organization that focuses the warfighting capability of the command through the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, two expeditionary mobility task forces, 15 wings and one stand-alone group.

General Benson is a 1982 graduate of Parks College of St. Louis University and received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels across four major commands. Under his leadership, the 99th Air Refueling Squadron received the General Carl Spaatz Award as the "Best Air Refueling Squadron in Air Mobility Command" in 1998, 1999 and 2000, as well as the Air Force Association's 1999 "Citation of Honor" Award for its contribution to national defense. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

General Benson is a command pilot with more than 4,300 flight hours in twelve aircraft, including 450 combat and combat support hours in operations Desert Storm, Decisive Endeavor, Northern Watch, Deliberate Forge, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

EDUCATION
1982 Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics, Parks College of St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.
1990 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1991 Master's degree in business administration, National University, Las Vegas, Nev.
1994 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
1996 Master of Aerospace Arts and Science degree, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 Master of Science degree in national security strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2006 National Security Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2007 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2008 Joint Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1983 - September 1984, student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. September 1984 - September 1987, instructor tactics pilot, 76th Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
3. September 1987 - March 1988, Chief, Combat Tactics, 17th Military Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. April 1988 - October 1991, Chief, C-141 Pilot Branch, Military Airlift Command's Combat Aircrew Training School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. October 1991 - January 1993, Chief, Strategic Airlift Special Operations Programs, Directorate of Operations and Transportation, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. January 1993 - June 1994, Executive Officer to the Director of Operations and Transportation, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
7. July 1994 - July 1995, student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
8. July 1995 - June 1996, student, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 1996 - August 2000, Operations Officer and Commander, 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
10. August 2000 - June 2001, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2001 - February 2002, politico-military staff officer, Latin America Division, Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. February 2002 - July 2003, Special Assistant to the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2003 - January 2005, Commander, 100th Operations Group, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England
14. February 2005 - September 2006, Commander, 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, Okla.
15. September 2006 - February 2008, Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
16. February 2008 - June 2009, Vice Commander, 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
17. June 2009 - June 2010, Commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia
18. June 2010 - present, Vice Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2001 - February 2002, politico-military staff officer, Latin America Division, Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. February 2002 - July 2003, Special Assistant to the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,300
Aircraft flown: KC-10A, KC-135R/T, C-17A, C-141B, C-130J, E-3B/C, TU-2S, RQ-4A, T-1A, T-6A, T-37B and T-38A/C

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award (Senior Officer Category), Air Mobility Command

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Feb. 6, 1983
First Lieutenant Feb. 6, 1985
Captain Feb. 6, 1987
Major Nov. 1, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 1998
Colonel Aug. 1, 2002
Brigadier General Nov. 24, 2008

(Current as of January 2012)