CMSgt Justin Brundage is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma – Mobility’s Hometown. He serves as the principal advisor to the Wing Commander on all matters concerning force utilization, readiness, training, career progression, and quality of life for 7,500 assigned officers, enlisted, civilians, students, contract personnel, and their families. Chief Brundage advises and supports four group and 16 squadron commanders and senior enlisted leaders to assure the force is informed, knowledgeable, and understands strategic policies and directives. The 97 AMW operates formal training for three major weapon systems, graduates over 2,000 students annually, and maintains a worldwide capability to support combatant commanders with deployable mission-ready Airmen on short-notice.
Chief Brundage was born in Port Jervis, New York and joined the Air Force in August 2002. After Basic Military Training, he attended technical training at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, Pensacola NAS, Florida and Fairchild AFB, Washington before his initial assignment to Travis AFB, California. Chief Brundage has led in various positions at the Squadron, Group, and Wing throughout his career. Additionally, he has served in a Contingency Response Wing, as an Interim First Sergeant in several organizations, as a Wing Functional Manager, and alongside the Royal Australian Air Force as an International Affairs Airman fostering partnerships and amplifying interoperability in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Chief Brundage has deployed 11 times in support of Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, STEEL CURTAIN, NEW DAWN, ODYSSEY DAWN, EAGLE STRIKE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, RESOLUTE SUPPORT, SPARTAN SHIELD, OKRA, INHERENT RESOLVE and Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.
Prior to assuming his current position, Chief Brundage served as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 432d Operations Group at Creech AFB, NV – The Home of the Hunters.
EDUCATION:
2006 Graduate, Airman Leadership School, Air University, Travis AFB, CA
2009 Associate Degree in Aviation Operations, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), Maxwell AFB, AL
2010 Associate Degree in Instructor of Technology and Military Science, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, AL
2011 AFRC Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Development Course, Travis AFB, CA
2012 CCAF Instructor Certification Level I & Level II, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, AL
2012 First Sergeant Symposium, Travis AFB, CA
2013 Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL (Summa Cum Laude)
2013 Contingency Response Mission Orientation Course, USAF Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
2013 Graduate, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Air University, Keesler AFB, MS
2014 Graduate, Senior Enlisted Joint PME by correspondence, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2014 Graduate, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy by correspondence, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, Brandman University, Irvine, CA (with Honors)
2015 Professional Manager Certification, CCAF, Maxwell AFB, AL
2017 Graduate, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2020 Graduate, Senior Enlisted Joint PME II by correspondence, National Defense University, Washington D.C.
2020 Chief Master Sergeant Training Course by correspondence, Leesburg, VA
2020 Graduate, Chief Leadership Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2021 Air Force Continuous Process Improvement and Innovation Senior Leaders’ Course, Scott AFB, IL
2022 Group Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2023 Wing Command Team Training Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
2023 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, The Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. August 2002 – October 2002, Trainee, Basic Military Training, 321st Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
2. February 2003 – March 2003, Student, Basic Boom Operator Course, 97th Training Squadron, Altus AFB, OK
3. March 2003 – December 2003, Student, KC-10 Combat Crew Training School, 60th Operations Support Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
4. December 2003 – June 2010, KC-10 In-Flight Refueling Instructor and Examiner, 9th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
5. June 2010 – October 2012, KC-10 Formal Training Unit Instructor, 60th Operations Support Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
6. October 2012 – September 2013, Pacific Region Affiliation Assistant Program Manager, 573d Global Support Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
7. September 2013 – January 2014, KC-10 In-Flight Refueling Instructor and Flight Supervisor, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
8. January 2014 – January 2017, KC-30 Evaluator Air Refueling Operator and Standardization and Training Section Chief, Number 33 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Queensland, Australia
9. January 2017 – October 2017, KC-10 Standardization and Evaluations Flight Chief, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
10. October 2017 – September 2019, Superintendent, KC-10 In-Flight Refueling, 9th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
11. September 2019 – July 2021, Superintendent and Chief Enlisted Manager, 9th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
12. July 2021 – July 2023, Senior Enlisted Leader, 432d Operations Group, Creech AFB, NV
13. July 2023 – Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB, OK
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating: Chief Airman Aircrew
Flight Hours: More than 6,700 (2,107 Combat)
Aircraft Qualifications: MQ-9, KC-10 & KC-30
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
2002 Distinguished Graduate, Enlisted Aircrew Undergraduate Course
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Basic Boom Operator Course
2003 Distinguished Graduate, KC-10 In-Flight Refueling Combat Crew Training School
2004 Senior Airman Below-the-Zone
2004 9th Air Refueling Squadron Airman of the Year
2004 SMSgt Albert L. Evans Trophy winner
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Airman Leadership School
2006 Distinguished Graduate, KC-10 In-Flight Refueling Instructor Upgrade
2006 SMSgt Albert L. Evans Trophy winner
2007 9th Air Refueling Squadron Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
2011 60th Air Mobility Wing Flying Instructor of the Year
2013 Distinguished Graduate, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2013 Academic Achievement Award, Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2014 Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
2015 Headquarters Air Force Captain Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award nominee
2015 Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
2016 Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year nominee
2017 Distinguished Graduate, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2017 CMSgt Bobby G. Renfroe Commandant Award, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
2017 SMSgt Albert L. Evans Trophy winner
2018 9th Air Refueling Squadron Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
2019 Air Mobility Command SSgt Henry E. “Red” Erwin Award nominee
2020 President, Travis AFB Chiefs’ Group
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:
Chief Master Sergeant December 1, 2020
(Current as of July 2023)