Colonel Bryan Preece is the Chief of Joint Staff, West Virginia National Guard, Charleston, W.Va. As Chief of the Joint Staff, serve as the full deputy to the Director, Joint Staff. Shares in and assists the chief with respect to all phases of the work of the Joint Staff in managing of National Guard military functions of the Joint Staff and joint military program operations throughout the State. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to the Director and the Adjutant General.
Colonel Preece enlisted the 130th Airlift Wing in 1993 as an air transportation specialist. While enlisted in Air Transportation, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was selected to represent the 130th Airlift Wing as a member of the Air Mobility Rodeo Team. In 1999, he commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon completing his Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia State University. In addition to serving as Operations Group Commander, Colonel Preece has served as the Chief of Current Operations, Chief of Training, as well as Deputy Commander of the 130th Maintenance Group. Colonel Preece has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Freedom Sentinel, and Coronet Oak.
Colonel Preece is a Command Pilot, Functional Check Pilot, and Flight Examiner in the C-130H and C-130J-30 with more than 4,000 military flying hours. Prior to his current position, the Colonel was commander, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, W.Va.
EDUCATION
1996 Airman Leadership School, by correspondence
1998 Bachelor of Arts, West Virginia State University, Institute, W.Va.
1999 Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2006 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2007 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2008 USAF Advanced Instrument School, Will Rogers Air National Guard Station, Okla.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2015 Master of Arts Degree, Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 1993 – September 1993, Student, Base Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
- April 1994 – June 1994, Student, Air Transportation School, Lackland AFB, Texas
- June 1994 – March 1999, Air Transportation Specialist, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, W.Va.
- March 1999 – July 1999, Student, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson ANGB, Tenn.
- July 1999 – Jul 2000, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB OK, and Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas
- March 2001 – August 2008, Line Pilot, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- August 2008 – February 2011, Chief of Training, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- February 2011 – October 2011, B Flight Commander, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- October 2011 – February 2012, C-130 Evaluator Pilot, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- February 2012 – October 2012, A Flight Commander, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- October 2012 – July 2015, Chief of Stan Evaluations, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- July 2015 – December 2017, Deputy Commander, 130th Maintenance Group, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- January 2018 – March 2018, Deputy Commander, 130th Operations Group, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- March 2018 – May 2019, Commander, 130th Operations Group, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- May 2019 – October 2025, Commander, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
- October 2025 - Present, Chief of Joint Staff, West Virginia National Guard, Charleston, W.Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- October 2025 – Present, Chief of Joint Staff, West Virginia National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Charleston, W.Va., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,000
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-44C, C-130H, C-130J-30
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 ‘M’ Device
Air and Space Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 23, 1999
First Lieutenant April 23, 2001
Captain May 15, 2003
Major May 16, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel April 23, 2012
Colonel March 3, 2018
(Current as of February 2026)