Colonel Bryan B. Tuinman is the Commandant, Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. He is responsible for providing military education and training, in Spanish, for more than 900 students annually to eligible military forces and governmental partners of 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries. IAAFA consists of 115 personnel in the 318 TRS, 837 TRS, and International Student Support section.
Colonel Tuinman is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s Officer Training School. He has served in various roles as an instructor pilot, evaluator pilot and combat aviation advisor. He has deployed in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and OBSERVANT COMPASS. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Tuinman was the Director, Resourcing (SOJ8), Special Operations Command - Pacific (SOCPAC), Camp Smith, Hawaii.
Colonel Tuinman is a command pilot with more than 2,700 flying hours, including 220 combat hours.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.
2003 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. 2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
2010 Master of Arts in Unconventional Warfare, American University, Virginia.
2016 Air Command and Staff College (in residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
2016 Master of Arts in Operational Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
2021 Air War College (in correspondence). 2021 JPME II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia.
ASSIGNMENTS
1.September 2002 – August 2003, Deputy Budget Officer, 347th Wing, Moody AirForce Base, Georgia.
2.August 2003 – July 2004, Student, undergraduate Pilot training, 37th Flying TrainingWing, Columbus AFB, Mississippi.
3.July 2004 – January 2005, Student, helicopter undergraduate Pilot training, 23rdFlying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Alabama.
4.January 2005 – June 2005, Student, UH-1N Initial Mission Qualification, 512thRescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
.5.June 2005 – June 2010, culminating as UH-1N Evaluator Pilot, Chief ofStandardization and Evaluation, 37th Helicopter Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming(May 2009 – May 2010, Mi-17 Evaluator Pilot, Combat Aviation Advisor, 721st AirExpeditionary Advisor Squadron, Taji AB, Iraq).
6.July 2010 – December 2013, Mi-17 Instructor Pilot, Combat Aviation Advisor,PACOM Flight Commander, 6th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt AFB, Florida.
7. January 2014 – July 2015, Deputy Chief, Helicopter Operations Branch, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
8. July 2015 – July 2016, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
9. August 2016 – June 2018, UH-1N Evaluator Pilot, Director of Operations, 54th Helicopter Squadron, Minot AFB, North Dakota.
10. June 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 40th Helicopter Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
11. July 2020 – March 2023, Director, Programming and Requirements, Special Operations Command Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
12. March 2023 – August 2023, Director, Resourcing, Special Operations Command Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
13. August 2023 – Present, Commandant, Inter-American Air Forces Academy, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2020 – March 2023, Director, Programming and Requirements, Special Operations Command Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
2. March 2023 – present, Director, Resourcing, Special Operations Command Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight Hours: more than 2700 including 220 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, UH-1H, UH-1N, Mi-8/17/171, C-145A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air and Space Commendation Medal Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster AF Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters Combat Readiness Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
(Current as of August 2023)