Colonel Gabriel C. Brown commands the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the only U.S. Air Wing in Africa, the 406th includes 700 deployed personnel across four locations, delivering uninterrupted base operating support and force protection in austere environments to guarantee reliable power projection for AFRICOM, AFAFRICA, and Third Air Force missions. The wing enables persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), precision attack, tactical airlift, and personnel recovery. Additionally, the 406th AEW strengthens readiness for humanitarian and contingency operations, crisis response, countering transnational threats, and strategic competition across Africa through its active commitment to partner engagement.
Col. Brown commissioned in the Air Force in July 2002 after graduating from San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif. He completed helicopter pilot training at Fort Rucker, Ala in January 2004 and he has 23 years of active service in various combat search and rescue positions in Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces. Col. Brown also participated in multiple contingency and humanitarian operations worldwide, including Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM SENTINEL, SPARTAN SHIELD, TOMODACHI, and Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. His command assignments include Commander of the 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan, and Commander of the first Expeditionary Air Base Group at Al Dhafra AB as part of the Davis-Monthan Lead Wing.
Prior to his current position, Col. Brown was the Deputy Commander of the 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Arts, Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2014 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence.
2015 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2023 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2002 – June 2003, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. June 2003 – February 2004, Student, Helicopter Pilot Training, Fort Rucker, Ala.
3. February 2004 – July 2004, Student, HH-60G Qualification Training, 512th Rescue Training Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. July 2004 – September 2008, HH-60G Pilot, Current Operations Officer, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
5. September 2008 – July 2012, HH-60G Weapons Instructor Pilot, Chief of Tactics, 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
6. July 2012 – January 2014, HH-60G Weapons Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, 34th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. January 2014 – June 2015, HH-60G Flight Examiner, Assistant Director of Ops, 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. June 2015 – May 2016, Student, Army Command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
9. June 2016 – June 2017, Special Access Program Manager, USAFWC, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. July 2017 – May 2019, Director of Operations, 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
11. May 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 33d Rescue Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan
12. June 2021 – July 2022, Instructor, Leader Development Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2022 – June 2023, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. June 2023 – August 2025, Deputy Wing Commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
15. August 2025 – Present, Commander, 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3,259
Combat hours: 659
Aircraft flown: HH-60G, HH-60W, UH-1H, and T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with seventeen oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal