Col. Allen G. Branco III is Commander, 354th Mission SupportGroup, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. He leads 6 squadrons
and 2,000 military and civilian personnel dedicated to enabling the mission and readiness of the 354th Fighter Wing. His group delivers world class communications, contracting, engineering, force support, security, and logistics capabilities to 11,000 Airmen and family members in Alaska’s interior.
Col. Branco received his commission through Officer Training School in 2003. He has held numerous base civil engineering, staff, and command assignments in the United States, the Indo-Pacific, and in Europe. He has supported South Korea defense obligations and served in contingency operations while in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar. He is qualified as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Nebraska.
Prior to his current assignment, Col. Branco was the Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation Support Division, Directorate of Plans, Policy, and Strategy (J5), Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Germany.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Neb.
2003 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Science in Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2024 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2003 – May 2006, Programmer, Deputy Engineering Flight Commander, and Readiness Flight Commander, 509th Civil
Engineer Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.
2. May 2006 – May 2007, Airfield Construction Manager, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
3. May 2007 – March 2008, Student, Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. March 2008 – July 2010, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight Commander, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron, Mountain Home
AFB, Idaho
5. August 2010 – December 2011, Student, AF Institute of Technology Civilian Institute Program, Austin, Texas
6. January 2012 – June 2013, Engineering Flight Commander, 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. June 2013 – June 2014, Operations Flight Commander, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
8. June 2014 – June 2015, Student, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
9. July 2015 – May 2017, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Program Director, Directorate of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff of
Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. May 2017 – June 2018, Executive Officer to the Director of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff of Logistics, Engineering and
Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. July 2018 – June 2020, Commander, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
12. June 2020 – July 2022, Commander, 368th Training Squadron, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
13. July 2022 – July 2023, Deputy Commander, 11th Mission Support Group, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.
14. July 2023 – June 2024, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, D.C.
15. July 2024 – June 2026, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation Support Division, Directorate of Plans, Policy, and Strategy (J5),
Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany
16. July 2026 – Present, Commander, 354th Mission Support Group, Eielson AFB, Alaska
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2024 – June 2026, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation Support Division, Directorate of Plans, Policy, and Strategy (J5),
Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 27, 2003
First Lieutenant June 27, 2005
Captain June 27, 2007
Major Nov 1, 2013
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2018
Colonel June 1, 2024
(Current as of July 2026)