Lieutenant Colonel Bryan D. Eckart
Lieutenant Colonel Bryan D. Eckart retired in July, 2018 as the Chief, Force Protection Operations Branch, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In this position, he oversaw implementation of Department of Defense Antiterrorism/Force protection programs/policies/procedures for US African Command and US European Command Areas of Responsibilities. He directed risk assessment programs securing Department of Defense assets and personnel across two Combatant Commands, 105 countries, and 650 airfields. He also led intel fusion and designs and executes contingency base defense & continuously deployed 600 Security Forces to steady state/emergent locations. He was the functional expert for deliberate and crisis action planning and served as the Combined Major Command Force Protection Advisor. He enlisted in the Air Force in August, 1987, and performed security forces duties on active duty, in the Illinois Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve before receiving his commission in September, 1995. He was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of Officer Training School in 1995. He is married to the former Lana Yarick of Hume, Missouri; they have three daughters (Emilea, Brianna, and Hannah).
FORMAL MILITARY TRAINING AND EDUCATION:
1987 USAF Security Specialist Course, Lackland AFB, TX.
1987 Security Forces Ground Combat Course, Ft. Dix, N.J.
1990 Associate’s Arts in General Studies, State Fair Community College, Sedalia, MO.
1993 Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL. Summa Cum Laude
1997 USAF First Sergeant Additional Duty Symposium, Eielson AFB, AK.
1999 US Customs Officer Course, Whiteman AFB, MO.
1999 USAF Security Forces Basic Officer Course, Lackland AFB, TX.
1999 US Navy Military Operations Other Than War Course, NAB Little Creek, VA
2000 AT/FP Level II Course (Certified Level I Instructor), Ft. Dix, N.J.
2000 Squadron Officer School (SOS), in-residence & non-resident, Maxwell AFB, AL
2000 Citizen’s Police Academy, Dover, DE.
2000 Ground Defense Command Course, Lackland AFB, TX.
2001 Basic Survival Course, Dover AFB, DE.
2001 Air Force PHOENIX RAVEN Course, McGuire AFB, N.J.
2001 Defensive Tactics Course, McGuire AFB, N.J.
2001 Air Mobility Command High Flight Program, Scott AFB, IL.
2001 Dynamics of International Terrorism (DIT), Hurlburt Field, FL
2001 Cross-Cultural Communications (CCC) Course, Ft. Dix, N.J.
2002 USAF Police Administration Course, Richmond, KY.
2002 US Army Hostage/Crisis Negotiations Course, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.
2003 Master's Degree in Educational Technology, City University, Renton, WA. GPA: 3.80
2003 National Wildland Firefighter Course, Clear AFS, AK.
2003 Aerospace Power Course, non-resident, Maxwell AFB, AL
2003 On-Scene Commander’s Course, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2008 Foundation for Defense of Democracies Fellowship, Tel Aviv, Israel
2009 Master's Degree in Criminology/Criminal Justice, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
2009 Acquisition Fundamentals Course, Peterson AFB, CO.
2009 Terrorism Liaison Officer Course, Colorado Information Analysis Center, Denver, CO.
2010 Explosives Fundamentals/Breeching Course, Department of Energy, NC.
2010 ICBM Advanced Course, Colorado Springs, CO.
2016 Defense Threat Reduction Assessor’s Course, Hickam AFB, HI.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. December 1987 – August 1991, security escort/camper alert/convoy, 352nd Missile Security Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
2. August 1991 - December 1993, alarm response team, 183rd Security Police Squadron ILANG, Springfield, Illinois
3. December 1993 – June 1995, security response team leader, 442nd Security Police Squadron AFRES, Richards-Gebaur Airport, Missouri
4. June 1995 - September 1995, trainee, Officer Training School, 24th Training Squadron, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
5. September 1995 - May 1998, squadron section commander, 354th Operations Support Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
6. October 1996 – January 1997, wing protocol officer, 4404th Wing (P), Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
7. October 1997 – February 1998, combined protocol officer, 5th Allied Tactical Air Force/Combined Air Operations Center, Vicenza, Italy
8. May 1998 - July 2000, officer in charge, training and resources branch, 509th Security Forces Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
9. July 2000 - October 2002, operations officer, 436th Security Forces Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware
10. October 2002 - October 2003, chief, security forces, 13th Space Warning Squadron, Clear Air Force Station, Alaska
11. October 2003 – June 2005, deputy course director and instructor, military strategic studies, 34th Education Squadron, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
12. June 2005 – February 2009, intermediate developmental education Ph.D. student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University
13. February 2009 – August 2009, chief, nuclear security operations, Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado 14. August 2009 – January 2011, chief, nuclear security operations, Headquarters, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
15. January 2011 – August 2011, afghan national police team lead, NATO Training Mission-Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
16. August 2011 – July 2013, commander, 377th Weapons System Security Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico
17. July 2013 – July 2015, commander, 375th Security Forces Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
18. July 2015 – July 2018, chief, force protection operations branch, HQ United States Air Forces in Europe, Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Commendation Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Air & Space Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
NATO Medal with Bronze Service Star
French National Defense Service Medal
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge-Gold Level
HONORS:
2017 German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge-Gold Level (Ramstein Air Base, Germany)
2012 Air Force Materiel Command's Outstanding Large Security Forces Unit Award
2011 French National Defense Service Award (National Police Training Center, Afghanistan)
2009 United States Air Force Academy Faculty Pipeline Program (Air Force Academy, Colorado)
2008 Academic Fellowship, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (Tel Aviv, Israel)
2004 Educator of the Year (34th Training Wing, Air Force Academy)
2002 Company Grade Officer of the Year (Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado)
2001 Company Grade Officer of the Year (436th SFS, Dover AFB, Delaware)
2000 PHOENIX RAVEN #684 (Air Mobility Command)
1999 Flight Commander, Wing Honor Guard (509th BW, Whiteman AFB, Missouri)
1999 Distinguished Graduate, SF Officer Course, (Lackland AFB, Texas)
1997 Company Grade Officer of the Year (354th OSS, Eielson AFB, Alaska)
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School (Maxwell AFB, Alabama)
1993 Who’s Who Among Students in Universities (Eastern Illinois University)
1990 Outstanding Airman of the Year (351st SMW, Whiteman AFB, Missouri)
1990 Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman, (8th Air Force)
1989 John L. Levitow Award Winner, NCO Prep Course (Whiteman AFB, Missouri)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant Sep 22, 1995
First Lieutenant Sep 22, 1997
Captain Sep 22, 1999
Major Feb 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Nov 1, 2010
(Current as of July 2020)
Master Sergeant James P. Quinlan
Biography in development...