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Bruce Campbell: Performer celebrates 30-year milestone

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kris Levasseur
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Music has played an important role in American military history, whether it is the drums that regulated the daily lives of the average military member or morale and welfare organizations, but according to one Pope member, music has played a key role in his life.

Bruce Campbell, 43rd Airlift Wing Multimedia Visual Information Specialist, holds November as a milestone in his life because on this month 30 years ago, he visited Pope for the very first time as a Tops in Blue performer.

"When I joined the Air Force, I came in as a Visual Information Specialist," said Mr. Campbell. "I really enjoyed visual information. I worked in command presentations at every base I went to. It gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of really important people and do things I wouldn't have the chance to otherwise."

Joining the Air Force also gave him a chance to pursue his passion - singing. "I've always had a talent as far as singing, and as a member of the Air Force, joining Tops in Blue gave me the opportunity to showcase those talents," said Mr. Campbell. "This was also a great opportunity to travel and help raise the morale of fellow servicemembers."

It was his passion for singing that brought Mr. Campbell to Pope for the first of two visits as a Tops in Blue performer in November 1979, and again the following year.

"Performing for me was all about morale, welfare and recreation for the people who put themselves in harm's way," and those stationed at remote sites around the world, he said.

Mr. Campbell enjoyed performing with Tops in Blue so much that he spent 17 years of his 23-year career involved in the Air Force Entertainment Program. Even today, Mr. Campbell stays in touch with the program director and mentors some of the up and coming performers.

Mr. Campbell has continued to sing over the years, but his second passion is what brought him back to Pope.

"I decided to continue to work for the government because the 23 years I spent in the United States Air Force were the best years of my life," he said. "After I retired, I went to school, studying librarianship, and then I took a job at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., as the Assistant Library Director.

"One day, I got an e-mail from the Air Force Personnel Center indicating I was a match for a visual information position at Pope, so I jumped at the opportunity to get back into the old career field."

Mr. Campbell returned to Pope on April 17, 2005, and has continued to raise the morale of everyone on base with a friendly smile, polite conversation and the work he does on a daily basis.