Colonel Bryan Preece is the Chief of the Joint Staff at Joint Forces Headquarters, Charleston, WV. He is responsible for managing programs and operations for the Joint Staff and overseeing issues that impact more than 6,000 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the West Virginia National Guard. He also serves as the Director of A6, Headquarters WV Air National Guard.
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’s Sentinel, and Coronet Oak.
Colonel Preece is a Command Pilot, Functional Check Pilot, and Flight Examiner in the C-130J with more than 4,000 military flying hours. He is trained as Director of Mobility Forces (DIRMOBFOR) and has served on the National Hurricane Response Bench in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He served as DIRMOBFOR for Exercise Ulchi Freedom in 2025.
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 ANGB, Tenn.
2006 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course
2007 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2008 USAF Advanced Instrument School
2009 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2015 Master of Arts Degree, Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course
2018 Director of Mobility Forces Course
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
- July 1993 – September 1993, Student, Base Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
- June 1992 – February 1994, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
- April 1994 – June 1994, Student, Air Transportation School, Lackland AFB, Texas
- March 2005 – February 2008, Targeting Cell Chief, 607th Air Operations Center, Osan Air Base, Korea
- June 1994 – March 1999, Air Transportation Specialist, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.