Colonel Bret A. Trippel is the Deputy Commander for Sustainment, 153d Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo. The 153d Airlift Wing supports the State of Wyoming, the Air National Guard and the United States Air Force with peacetime and combat airlift missions throughout the world. The 153d Airlift Wing is equipped with eight C-130H aircraft and consists of more than 1200 personnel across multiple groups, squadrons and flights. In his role, Colonel Trippel leads a diverse team of special staff providing support of state and federal missions. Colonel Trippel excels at providing effective support to the Wing Commander through disciplined and experienced leadership.
Col Trippel began his career in the Wyoming Air Guard as a Traditional Crew Chief working on the Flight Line in December of 1991. In 2001 he received his commission in the Wyoming Air National Guard upon completion of the Academy of Military Science. During Col Trippel’s 13 years as a traditional guardsman he worked as a project manager and estimator in the plumbing and heating construction field and then moved to Montana where he started his own home building Construction Company. In late 2004 he was selected as a full-time technician in the aircraft maintenance organization and in 2013 he was selected for a tour as the commander of the 153d Civil Engineer Squadron. In 2017, he served as the 153 Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander where he provided fully trained and equipped personnel ready to support federal, state and community missions. September 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Trippel was selected to be the Director of the Human Resources Office, Joint Forces Headquarters, Wyoming National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo. In this role he provided supervisory support and leadership to all functional areas of the Human Resources Office.
EDUCATION
1992 Associates of Arts degree in Liberal Arts, Trinidad State Junior College, Trinidad, Colo.
1999 Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.
2001 Academy of Military Science, Knoxville, Tenn.
2002 Aircraft Maintenance Officer School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2005 Intermediate Leadership Development Course, Knoxville, Tenn.
2006 Status of Resources Training, Toledo, Ohio
2007 Munitions Accountable Systems Officer School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2009 Squadron Officer School, correspondence
2012 IDE Air Command and Staff College, correspondence
2013 Masters of Military Operational Art and Science Degree, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Logistics Readiness Officer School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2018 SDE United States Air Force, Air War College, correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1991–June 2001, Aircraft Maintenance Specialist, 153d Maintenance Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
2. June 2001–June 2003, Commander, 153d Logistics Support Flight, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
3. June 2003–August 2004, Commander, 153d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
4. August 2004–April 2008, Commander, 153d Maintenance Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
5. April 2008–December 2010, Commander, 153d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
6. December 2010–July 2013, Commander, 153d Maintenance Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
7. July 2013–April 2017, Commander, 153d Civil Engineer Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
8. April 2017–October 2020, Commander, 153d Logistics Readiness Squadron, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
9. November 2020-October 2021, Deputy Human Resources Officer, Joint Forces Headquarters, Cheyenne, Wyo.
10. October 2021-July 2024, Human Resources Officer-J1, Wyoming Joint Force Headquarters, Wyoming National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
11. July 2024-July 2025, Commander, 153d Maintenance Group, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
12. July 2025-Present, Deputy Commander for Sustainment, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Wyoming National Guard Association
National Guard Association of the United States