Col. Paul J. Brehm is the Commander of the 306th Flying Training Group, 12th Flying Training Wing, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. The 306th Flying Training Group provides soaring, parachuting and powered flight as character building operations focused on enhancing the airmanship and leadership of USAFA and Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets. The group also provides flight training for all Air Force officers scheduled to enter Pilot, Combat Systems Operator, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft training. On an annual basis, the 306th Flying Training Group trains more than 4,000 cadets and officers while operating the USAF's busiest visual flight rules airfield operated only during daylight hours.
Col Brehm entered the Air Force in 2004 with a commission from the United States Air Force Academy. Since graduating from Undergraduate Pilot Training in 2006, he has flow and deployed in the F-16, U-28, and CV-22, amassing over 3,600 hours of flight time as an instructor and evaluator pilot, including over 1,400 hours of combat time. Prior to his current position, Col Brehm was the Division Chief for Future Operations at Headquarters, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Col Brehm’s other noteworthy assignments include Command of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, then the Air Force’s largest CV-22 squadron, serving as the Special Assistant to the Vice Commander of United States Special Operations Command, and instructing at Air Command and Staff College as part of the Air University Fellows program.
EDUCATION
2004: Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2011: Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2012: Master of Arts in Education, Trident University International, by correspondence
2015: Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2018: Master of Arts in Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration, Center for Strategy and Technology, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023: Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2004 – May 2006, Student Pilot, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. and Columbus AFB, Miss.
2. May 2006 – May 2007, F-16C Initial Qualification Student, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
3. May 2007 – June 2008, Assistant Chief of Mobility and F-16CJ Pilot, 79th Fighter Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. June 2008 – May 2009, U-28A Initial Qualification Student, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. May 2009 – May 2012, Flight Commander and U-28A Evaluator Pilot, 319th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. May 2012 – April 2014, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Standards and Tactics Pilot, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. April 2014 – June 2015, CV-22B Initial Qualification Student, VMMT-204, New River Marine Corps Air Station, S.C. & 71st Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
8. June 2015 – June 2017, Assistant Operations Officer and CV-22B Instructor Pilot, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
9. June 2017 – June 2018, Blue Horizons Fellow, Center for Strategy and Technology, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2018 – June 2019, Air University Fellow, Department of Leadership, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2019 – December 2019, Operations Officer, 1st Special Operations Air Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. December 2019 – April 2022, Commander, 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
13. April 2022 – June 2022, Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
14. June 2022 – June 2023, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. June 2023 – September 2024, Special Assistant to the Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
16. September 2024 – February 2025, Senior Aviation Policy Analyst; Program, Budgets and Acquisition Branch, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
17. March 2025 – July 2025, Executive Officer, Secretariat for Special Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
18. July 2025 – June 2026, Division Chief, Future Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
19. June 2026 – Present, Commander, 306th Flying Training Group, USAFA, Colo.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2023 – July 2025, Special Assistant to the Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command, and Executive Officer to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, Secretariat for Special Operations, Pentagon, Washington D.C, as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 3,600
Aircraft flown: T-6, T-38, F-16, PC-12, U-28, MV-22 and CV-22
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
(Current as of June 2026)