Base LEADERSHIP
Brig. Gen. Matthew G. Brancato is the Commander, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. He is responsible for the readiness of more than 1,700 Air National Guardsmen in support of multiple federal and state missions, and he oversees flying missions for the A-10 and KC-135 aircraft. The 127th Wing is also host to 70 tenant units, including every branch of the military and several Department of Homeland Security organizations—totaling more than 5,000 active, Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel.
Brig. Gen. Brancato graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering. After completing an overseas short tour at Aviano Air Base, Italy, he attended Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas where he flew the T-37B and T-1 aircraft, earning his pilot wings in 2001. His first flying assignment was at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, flying the C-17 Globemaster III in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. After three years and over 1,500 hours in the C-17, he returned to the US Air Force Academy to fly the TG-10 and TG-15 aircraft. In 2008, Brig. Gen. Brancato transferred to Hector Field ANGB, Fargo, North Dakota, and transitioned to fly the MQ-1B Predator Remotely Piloted Aircraft. While assigned to the 119th Operations Group in North Dakota, he served as the Executive Officer for the Operations Group Commander, and then as a Flight Commander and Director of Operations of the 178th Reconnaissance Squadron. In 2015, he became the RPA Functional Area Manager at the ANG Readiness Center at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. He was responsible for all ANG Remotely Piloted Intelligence Surveillance, and Reconnaissance platforms, including 12 RPA Wings, and a Classic Associate Unit at Creech AFB, Nevada. After his assignment at the ANGRC, he served as the 160th Attack Squadron Commander and then the 163d Operations Group Commander at March Air Reserve Base, California, where he commanded and led over 250 personnel, four squadrons, one weather flight and a Formal Training Unit. After his command tour in California, Brig. Gen. Brancato completed Senior Developmental Education at the National Defense University’s National War College. He then took command of the 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis, Tennessee.
Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Brancato served as the Senior Executive Officer to the 29th Chief, National Guard Bureau and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In his civilian capacity, Brig. Gen. Brancato opened a non-profit wellness retreat center for military survivors and their families in 2014.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of General Engineering, USAF Academy, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Master of Arts in Adult Education, Touro University International, Calif.
2008 Associate of Occupational Studies in Automotive Technology
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2017 Air War College, Correspondence
2020 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington D.C.
2021 Commander Leadership Course, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, MD
2021 Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, MD
2021 Commander Legal Orientation Course, National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, MD
2022 U.S. Air Force Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, CO
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1999 - July 2000, Special Projects Officer, 603d Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
2. July 2000 - December 2001, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin, Texas
3. December 2001 - May 2002, Assistant Chief of Readiness, C-17 Mission Pilot, 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. May 2002 - August 2004, Stan/Eval Liaison Officer, C-17 Airland/Airdrop Pilot, 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
5. August 2004 - February 2005, Pilot Scheduler, 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
6. February 2005 - November 2006, Chief of Training, 94th Flying Training Squadron, USAF Academy, Colo.
7. November 2006 - February 2008, Flight Commander, 94th Flying Training Squadron, USAF Academy, Colo.
8. February 2008 - May 2010, Chief of Scheduling, MQ-1 Instructor Pilot, 178th Reconnaissance Squadron, Fargo, N.D.
9. May 2010 - August 2011, Executive Officer, MQ-1 Instructor Pilot, 119th Operations Group, Fargo, N.D.
10. August 2011 - September 2012, Flight Commander, MQ-1 Instructor Pilot, 178th Reconnaissance Squadron, Fargo, N.D.
11. September 2012 - August 2014, Director of Operations, MQ-1 Instructor Pilot, 178th Reconnaissance Squadron, Fargo, N.D.
12. August 2014 - February 2017, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Functional Area Manager / MQ-1 Pilot, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
13. February 2017 - October 2017, Commander, 160th Attack Squadron, March ARB, Calif
14. October 2017 - June 2019, Commander, 163d Operations Group, March ARB, Calif.
15. June 2019 - July 2019, Advisor to National Guard Bureau A2/3/6/10 ISR Division, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
16. August 2019 - June 2020, National War College Student, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2020 - June 2022, Commander, 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis, Tenn.
18. June 2022 - July 2023, Executive Officer to the Chief, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
19. August 2023 - Present, Commander, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2022 - July 2023, Executive Officer to the Chief, NGB, Pentagon, Washington, DC, as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 4,600
Aircraft Flown: T-37B, T-1, C-17, KC-135, TG-10, TG-15, MQ-1B, MQ-9
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
NATO ISAF Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 02, 1999
First Lieutenant June 02, 2001
Captain June 02, 2003
Major August 27, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel September 06, 2013
Colonel June 28, 2018
Brigadier General June 19, 2023
(Current as of August 2023)
Chief Master Sergeant Bruce T. Hedrick is the Command Chief of the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. He represents the highest level of enlisted leadership and is the principal advisor to the 127th Wing Commander. Chief Hedrick is responsible for all matters influencing the health, morale, welfare, and professional development of Airmen assigned to the 127th Wing. The 127th Wing is home to more than 1,700 Citizen-Airmen operating both the A-10 and KC-135 Aircraft, as well as the host to more than 47 tenant organizations from all branches of the military and numerous Department of Homeland Security organizations. Nearly 4,500 Active, Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel call Selfridge home.
Chief Hedrick enlisted in the United States Airforce in September 2002 as a Cryptographic Linguist. He Palace Chased into the Ohio Air National Guard in May 2003 as a Visual Information specialist and Public Affairs specialist with the 180th Fighter Wing, Swanton, Ohio. His assignments included Joint Base Andrews for support for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, Headquarters, Air National Guard, where he served as a liaison between 88 ANG field units and staff throughout the ANG multimedia and public affairs career field merger, and a deployment to Southwest Asia under OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. He cross-trained into the Command Post career field in September 2008 and transferred to the 113th Wing in December 2013 as the Command Post Superintendent. He has served as the President of the DCANG Top-3 Council, Vice-Chair, ANG Command Post career field council, and Executive Director of the D.C. National Guard Enlisted Association.
Chief Hedrick previously served as the Senior Enlisted Leader, Air National Guard Director's Action Group, Office of the Director, Air National Guard, where he provided enlisted perspective on all strategic communications and ANG programs to internal and external organizations, and prepared strategic messaging and engagement support for the Director, Deputy Director, Executive Director, and Command Chief of the Air National Guard. Prior to his current assignment, Chief Hedrick served as the Chief, Command and Control Branch, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
EDUCATION
2002 Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2006 Airman Leadership School, Correspondence
2011 Associate of Arts, Lorain County Community College, Elyria, Ohio
2011 Associates of Emergency Management, Community College of Air Force
2012 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2013 Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Correspondence International
2013 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Development course, Winnipeg, Canada
2013 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Correspondence
2014 Bachelors of Science, Information Technology Management, American Military University, Charles Town, W. Va.
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (E8-E9), Correspondence
2018 ANG Chief Master Sergeant Executive Course, JB Andrews, Md.
2020 Africa Seminar - Demographics, Resources, and Governance, Allan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2020 National & International Security Leadership Seminar, Allan L. Freed Associates, Washington D.C.
2020 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2022 Masters of Applied Leadership and Management, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Ariz.
2023 Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Phase II course, USNORTHCOM, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2023 Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Advanced Course, School of Strategic Force Studies, AFIT
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2002 - November 2002, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas
2. November 2002 - May 2003, Student, 311th Training Squadron, AETC, Presidio of Monterey, Calif.
3. May 2003 - March 2008, Visual Information Specialist, 180th Fighter Wing, Swanton, Ohio
(December 2004 - April 2005, Audiovisual Specialist, Southwest Asia)
(May 2006 - September 2007, Alt. Public Affairs FAM, National Guard Bureau, JB Andrews, Md.)
4. March 2008 - December 2013, Command Post Controller, 180th Fighter Wing, Swanton, Ohio
5. December 2013 - March 2018, Command Post Superintendent, 113th Wing, JB Andrews, Md.
6. March 2018 - March 2019, Command and Control (C2) Chief Enlisted Manager/Wing Staff Agencies Superintendent, 113th Wing, JB Andrews, Md.
7. March 2019 - October 2020, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Director's Action Group, Office of the Director, Air National Guard, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. October 2020 - June 2024, Chief, Command and Control Branch and NGB 1C3 Career Field Manager, Air National Guard Readiness Center, JB Andrews, Md.
9. July 2024 - Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 180th Fighter Wing Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2011 State of Ohio Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2011 1AF Aerospace Control Alert Command Post Controller of the Year
2014 113th Operations Group Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2014 Air National Guard Command Post Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
District of Columbia National Guard Enlisted Association
Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
National Guard Association of Michigan
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic September 17, 2002
Airman October 01, 2003
Airman First Class October 01, 2004
Senior Airman May 01, 2005
Staff Sergeant May 25, 2007
Technical Sergeant April 01, 2010
Master Sergeant September 01, 2012
Senior Master Sergeant January 15, 2016
Chief Master Sergeant March 15, 2018
(Current as of July 2024)
Colonel David J. Spehar is the Vice Wing Commander, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. Comprised of more than 2,500 authorized military, civilian, and contract personnel, the 127th Wing is largest Air National Guard Wing hosting more than 5,000 personnel from multiple services including more than 70 tenant organizations and 29 assigned aircraft. Colonel Spehar is responsible for daily operations of two military
weapons systems supporting two MAJCOM's with A-10C (ACC) and KC-135 (AMC) assigned aircraft. With oversight of more than $130 million annual budget, he ensures base programs, personnel, and policies directly support the Wing to continually optimize and
leverage combat ready capabilities.
Colonel Spehar graduated from the University of Akron and earned his commission through Air Force ROTC. After attending the Aircraft Maintenance and Munitions Officer Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas he started his first assignment working with the F-117A Stealth Fighter at the 49th Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, New Mexico. He held numerous leadership positions within the 49th Fighter Wing and was selected for an
assignment as Deputy Chief of Supportability and Low Observables for the Joint Strike Fighter and other Low Observable platforms at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio in 1996. In June 1999, after attending specialized training at Maxwell AFB, he earned his academic instructor rating and became an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Virginia Military Institute and Mary Baldwin College until departing active duty in October 2000.
Colonel Spehar arrived at the 127th Wing in November of 2000 and was assigned to the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as the F-16C Maintenance Operations Officer. He served in that capacity until being hired as the full time C-130E Deputy Director of Maintenance in the 127th Airlift Group on 3 March 2005. He earned his first command in the 191st Maintenance Operations Flight in September of 2005 and commanded his first squadron, the 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, in June of 2007. He, along with a team of skilled professionals, led his squadron through a successful aircraft conversion, an
Operational Readiness Inspection and the 127th Wing’s first-ever Nuclear Operation Readiness Inspection in the KC-135T aircraft.
During his career, Colonel Spehar has deployed to combat zones as an operations officer and commander to Germany, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Turkey supporting Operations Northern and Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. Most recently, from April 4th 2015 through 24 October 2015, he commanded the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Group and Squadron composed of 300 total force Airmen supporting Operation Inherent Resolve at Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Spehar was the 127th Maintenance Group Commander, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Arts in Business and Organization Communications, University of Akron, OH
1998 Masters of Science in Aeronautical Operations, Embry-Riddle University, Dayton, OH
2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL., by correspondence
2006 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL., by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL, by correspondence
2021 Masters of Science, Strategic Studies, US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1994–June 1994, Student, Officer Technical Training, 362nd Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
2. June 1994–September 1995, Commander, 49th Sortie Support Flight, 49th Logistics Group, Holloman AFB, NM.
3. September 1995–October 1996, Commander, 49th Sortie Generation Flight, 49th Logistics Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
4. October 1996–September 1998, Acquisition/Logistics Manager, Joint Strike Fighter, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
5. September 1998–August 1999, Deputy Chief of Sustainment, F-117 SPO, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
6. August 1999–October 2000, Assistance Professor of Aerospace Studies, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va.
7. December 2000–February 2003, Commander, Sortie Gen Flight, 127th Aircraft Generation Sqdn, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
8. February 2003–March 2005, Maintenance Operations Officer, 127th Aircraft Maintenance Sqdn, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
9. March 2005–September 2005, Maintenance Officer, 191st Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
10. September 2005– June 2007, Commander, 191st Maintenance Operations Flight, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
11. June 2007–April 2012, Commander, 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
12. April 2015–October 2015, Commander, 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait.
13. April 2011–January 2016, Commander, 127th Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
14. January 2016–January 2022, Commander, 127th Maintenance Group, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
15. January 2022–Present, Vice Wing Commander, 127th Wing, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Unit Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Reserve Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and Oak Leaf Cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two Mobility Devices
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with Bronze Star
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 20, 1993
First Lieutenant September 20, 1995
Captain September 20, 1997
Major October 4, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel October 4, 2008
Colonel September 15, 2016
(Current as of October 2022)