Chief Master Sergeant Bryan R. Manchester is the Group Superintendent, 18th Air Support Operations Group, Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina. He advises the commander and staff on matters influencing the health, welfare, morale, readiness and effective utilization of 950 active duty and civilian personnel. The 18th Air Support Operations Group has six squadrons, five detachments and six operating locations dispersed across nine states.
Chief Manchester entered the Air Force in April 1994. His background includes numerous leadership roles at squadron, group and wing levels and operational roles from platoon to corps levels. Over his career, he deployed in support of Operations JOINT GUARD, SUSTAIN HOPE, SHINING HOPE, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE and SPARTAN SHIELD.
EDUCATION
1999 Airman Leadership School, Hurlburt Field, FL
2003 Associate degree in Construction Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2004 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Kadena AB, Japan
2006 Anti-terrorism/Force Protection Instructor Course, Sembach AB, Germany
2006 NATO School, Conventional Forces Europe Treaty Inspector/Escort Course, Germany
2008 Associate degree in Information Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force
2008 United States Air Force Senior Enlisted Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, National Defense University
2010 Professional Management Certificate, Community College of the Air Force
2015 Bachelors of Science, Management/Homeland Security, Univ of Maryland Univ College
2017 Air Force Forces Senior Staff Course, Hurlburt Field, FL
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1994 – June 1994, Student, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX
2. June 1994 – August 1994, Student, Pavements/Construction Equipment, Sheppard AFB, TX
3. August 1994 – May 1996, Pavements/Construction Equipment Apprentice, 775th Civil Engineering Squadron, Hill AFB, UT
4. June 1996 – February 1998, Pavements/Construction Equipment Journeyman, 52d Civil Engineering Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany (January 1997 – May 1997, Tuzla AB, Bosnia-Herzegovinia)
5. February 1998 – September 2001, Pavements/Construction Equipment Craftsman, 823d RED HORSE SQUADRON, Hurlburt Field, FL (April 1999 – July 1999, Rinas International Airport, Tirana, Albania)
6. October 2001 – October 2002, Pavements/Construction Equipment Craftsman, 554th RED HORSE Squadron, Osan AB, Korea
7. October 2002 – January 2004, NCOIC Pavements /Construction Equipment, 36th Civil Engineering Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
8. February 2004 – November 2005, Section Chief, 435th Civil Engineering Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany (May 2005 – September 2005, NCOIC Horizontal Construction, Sather AB, Baghdad, Iraq)
9. November 2005 – February 2007, Superintendent Wing Inspections & Readiness, 435th Air Base Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
10. February 2007 – June 2007, Student, Tactical Air Command and Control, Hurlburt Field, FL
11. June 2007 – December 2009, Flight Chief, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, Pope AFB, NC (October 2008 – April 2009, Brigade NCOIC, Forward Operating Base Loyalty, Baghdad, Iraq)
12. January 2010 – October 2010, Operations Superintendent, 18th Air Support Operations Group, Pope AFB, NC
13. October 2010 – May 2011, Operations Superintendent, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, Pope Field, NC
14. May 2011 – April 2012, Brigade NCOIC, 807th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan
15. April 2012 – December 2012, Operations Superintendent, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, Pope Army Air Field, NC
16. December 2012 – May 2016, Squadron Superintendent, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, Pope Army Air Field, NC (January 2014 – July 2014, Squadron Superintendent, 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan and May 2015 – February 2016, Squadron Superintendent, 72d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, Union III, Baghdad, Iraq)
17. May 2016 – September 2016, Group Operations Superintendent, 18th Air Support Operations Group, Pope Army Air Field, NC
18. October 2016 – October 2018, Squadron Superintendent, 15th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Stewart, GA (January 2018 – July 2018, Group Superintendent, 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait)
19. November 2018 – Present, Group Superintendent, 18th Air Support Operations Group, Pope Army Airfield, NC
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal with device
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1998 USAF Explosives Demolition School, Nellis AFB, NV
2002 7th Air Force, Lance P. Sijan
2007 Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, GA
2008 USAF Survival School, Fairchild AFB, WA
2010 Army Pathfinder School, Fort Benning, GA
2010 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2010 18th Air Support Operations Group, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2011 Army Combat Action Badge
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Technical Sergeant 1 July 2002
Master Sergeant 1 July 2005
Senior Master Sergeant 1 April 2012
Chief Master Sergeant 1 March 2016
(Current as of Nov 2018)