Colonel Michael P. Brazda is the Commander of the 36th Operations Group, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The Group is comprised of two permanent units and remains prepared to sustain force projection of expeditionary joint service and partner nation units from the Second Island Chain within the USINDOPACOM Area of Responsibility.
Colonel Brazda earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Michigan State University in 2000. He is a Master Navigator and Instructor Weapons System Officer in the B-1 with more than 1,900 hours of flight time in various aircraft.
His staff assignments include Political Affairs Strategist and Director of Levant Plans at USAFE Headquarters, followed by Chief of the Third Air Force Commander’s Action Group, Ramstein Air Base (AB), Germany. Prior to his current position, Colonel Brazda was the Chief of USSTRATCOM’s Washington Liaison Office, The Pentagon, Washington D.C., where he supported the Combatant Commander’s mission and vision through continuous presence in the National Capital Region and provided proactive engagement with various agencies across the United States Government.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (correspondence)
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (correspondence)
2022 Master of Science in National Resource Strategy
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2001 – April 2002, Student, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla.
2. April 2002 – September 2002, Student, Electronic Warfare Training, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. October 2002 – November 2003, Student, B-1 Initial Qualification Training, Dyess AFB, Texas
4. November 2003 – December 2006, B-1 Weapon System Officer, Ellsworth AFB, S.D. (September 2004 – December 2004, B-1 Weapon System Officer, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories), (January 2006 – February 2006, B-1 Weapon System Officer, Anderson AB, Guam)
5. January 2007 – February 2010, Instructor, VT-86, Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training, Pensacola, Fla. (March 2009 – September 2009, Electronic Warfare Officer, Task Force Paladin, Afghanistan)
6. February 2010 – July 2012, Wing Electronic Warfare Officer, 7th Operations Support Squadron, Dyess AFB, Texas (July 2011 – April 2012, Executive Officer, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
7. July 2012 – July 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 2013 – July 2014, Political Affairs Strategist, USAFE/A5I, Ramstein AB, Germany
9. July 2014 – July 2016, Director, Levant Plans Branch, USAFE/A5X, Ramstein AB, Germany
10. July 2016 – July 2017, Chief, Commander’s Action Group, Third Air Force, Ramstein AB, Germany
11. August 2017 – December 2018, Director of Operations, 29th Training Systems Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
12. December 2018 – May 2019, Director, Combat Shield, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
13. May 2019 – May 2021, Commander, 87th Electronic Warfare Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
14. June 2021 – June 2022, Student, Eisenhower School for Resource Strategy and National Security, Fort Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2022 – May 2025, Chief, USSTRATCOM Washington Liaison Office, USSTRATCOM/J003, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. May 2025 – Current, Commander, 36th Operations Group, Andersen AFB, Guam
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2022 – May 2025, Chief, USSTRATCOM Washington Liaison Office, USSTRATCOM, Pentagon, VA, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: master navigator Flight hours: 1900+ hours
Aircraft flown: T-34C, T-1, T-39G/N, T-43, T-45, EA-6B, B-1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster Navy Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 16, 2000
First Lieutenant December 26, 2001
Captain December 26, 2003
Major September 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2015
Colonel May 1, 2021
(Current as of July 2025)