Florida Air Guard’s Branyon promoted to brigadier general
By Master Sgt. Thomas Kielbasa, FLNG JFHQ
/ Published January 11, 2011
The Florida Air National Guard promoted its newest general Jan. 7, as Col. Robert Branyon removed his colonel rank and was pinned with silver stars to the rank of brigadier general. -- During an afternoon ceremony at the historic St. Francis Barracks in downtown St. Augustine, Branyon was pinned with the new rank by his wife Leslie, and Adjutant General of Florida Maj. Gen. Emmett Titshaw Jr.
Branyon, who has served as commander of the 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville since 2008, will also assume the position of Chief of Staff for the Florida Air National Guard.
"I did not expect to be here today," Branyon told the more than 100 friends, family members and military members at the ceremony. "I expected to get a 20-year career, maybe be a fighter squadron commander and then go on to do something else. When I look back on that career the only thing that I can say is that I always try to do the best job that I can do."
He added that his philosophy is to create a positive work and command environment through his own attitude.
"I've always tried to bring a positive attitude and positive energy to anything that I've been a part of and share that with my people," Branyon said. "And I promise that I will do that at the Joint Force Headquarters."
Branyon is a command pilot with more than 3,300 flying hours. He joined the Florida Air National Guard in July 1991. He became an F-16 Falcon pilot, and in May 1995, transitioned to the F-15 Eagle. He commanded the 125th Logistics Group and the 159th Fighter Squadron and, later, served as Vice Commander, 125th Fighter Wing.
Branyon began his pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., in 1982 where he attended F-4 Phantom training at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, in 1984. Branyon was subsequently assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., where he served as an instructor pilot, squadron training officer, and safety officer. In 1987, he was selected as a U.S. Air Force Aggressor Pilot and assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Adversary Tactics School, Branyon received both the Top Gun Award and the Distinguished Graduate Award.
Branyon is a resident of Orange Park, Fla.