Col Bryson S. Ayers is the Commander of the 5th Operations Group, Minot AFB, North Dakota where he trains disciplined combat ready Airmen and develops Air Force Leaders who supply B -52s while operating the worlds premier strategic airfield to provide lethal bomber firepower anytime, anywhere.
Lt Col Ayers received his commission in 2004 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Nebraska and completed Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas in 2005.
He has led in various positions including the Squadron Commander of the 69th Bomb Squadron, Director of Operations, Assistant Director of Operations and Executive Officer to the Deputy Director of Operations at United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, NE.
Lt Col Ayers is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Command and Staff College and the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School. He is a command Combat Systems Officer and weapons officer with more than 3,200 hours and multiple deployments in the B-52H.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Nebraska. Lincoln, N.E. 2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, A.L., by correspondence & residence
2011 Masters of Science in International Relations, Troy University, A.L. 2012 USAF Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, NV.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, A.L. 2018 U.S. Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
2018 Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Newport, R.I.
2023 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Norfolk, V.A. ASSIGNMENTS OR
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 2005-January 2006, Student Combat Systems Officer, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 2006-November 2006, B-52 FTU Student, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. November 2006-December 2011, B-52 Navigator, Radar Navigator, Instructor, Evaluator, Flight Commander, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. January 2012-June 2012, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
5. July 2012-October 2013, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. November 2013-April 2017, Emergency Actions Officer, Chief, EAP Guidance Branch, DJ3 Executive Officer, U.S. StrategicCommand, Offutt AFB, Neb.
7. May 2017-July 2018, Student Naval Command and Staff College and Maritime Advanced Warfighting School, Newport, R.I.
8. August 2018-June 2019, Assistant Director of Operations, 23d Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
9.July 2019– August 2020 Director of Operations, 23d Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
10.August 2020-November 2020, Deputy Commander, 5th Operations Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
11.November 2020-December 2023, Commander, 69th Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
12.December 2023-July 2023, Deputy Commander, 5th Operations Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
13.July 2023-July 2024, Department of The Air Force Senior Lab Fellow, Oak Ridge National Labs, T.N
14.July 2024-August 2005, Senior Executive Officer for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, V.A.
15.August 2025-July 2026, Division Chief, Readiness, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, V.A
16.July 2026- Present, Commander 5th Operations Group, Minot AFB, ND
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2013-May 2017, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. As a Major
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Combat Systems Officer
Flight hours: more than 3200 hours
Aircraft flown: T-43, T-1, and B-52H.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force
Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with N device
PUBLICATIONS
“Additive Manufacturing: The American Corvus” Wild Blue Yonder, Maxwell AFB, Ala. September 2024