TSgt. Mark Brady, an explosive ordnance disposal team leader with the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron at Andersen AFB, Guam, received a Bronze Star Medal on Aug. 27 for his meritorious service during a six-month deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, that began last September. Brady, then a staff sergeant, is credited with helping to destroy more than 2,500 pieces of ordnance and supervising and mentoring two EOD operators during more than 50 combat missions during his time assigned to Balad’s 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. (Andersen report by SrA. Shane Dunaway)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.