Col. Brian “Axle” Beears is the Deputy Commander of the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The wing’s mission is to provide, project, and sustain combat-ready air forces. The wing is responsible for the mission readiness of its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft and 18 squadrons, stewardship of Shaw, and the health and welfare of 8,000 active-duty Airmen and civilians. Furthermore, the 20th Fighter Wing supports 31,000 local military retirees and 29 geographically separated units across nine states.
Col. Beears grew up in Howell, New Jersey, and is a 2006 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, receiving his commission through ROTC. He earned his pilot aeronautical rating in 2007 as a distinguished graduate of Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas. He has served as an evaluator pilot, a weapons officer, and an instructor pilot at multiple assignments in Air Combat Command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and U.S. Air Forces Central. Col. Beears was also the commander of the F-16 Weapons Squadron at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada.
Col. Beears is a Command Pilot with more than 2,300 hours in the F-16, T-38, and T-37, including 595 combat hours in two deployments to Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. He has also flown in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE and was deployed to the Republic of Korea as part of a Theater Support Package. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Beears served on The Joint Staff, J8 Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment as the Special Access Program Coordinator, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virgina and attended the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
2006 Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fl.
2010 Forward Air Controller (Airborne) School, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
2012 United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2015 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
2018 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 United States Air Force Warfare Center Fellow, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2023 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2026 Master of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2006 – September 2007, Student, Distinguished Graduate, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2. September 2007 – February 2008, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Sheppard AFB, Texas
3. February 2008 – February 2009, Student, Distinguished Graduate, F-16 Replacement Training Unit and Night Systems Course, Luke AFB, Ariz.
4. February 2009 – July 2010, Chief of Mobility, 34th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
5. July 2010 – July 2012, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
6. July 2012 – December 2012, Student, Distinguished Graduate, F-16 Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. December 2012 – December 2015, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
8. December 2015 – July 2018, Assistant Director of Operations, Flight Commander, Chief of Training, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. July 2018 – June 2019, Combat Air Forces Fellow, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
10. June 2019 – June 2020, Chief, Advanced Programs Division and Warfighter Integration Office, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11. June 2020 – June 2021, Director of Operations, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
12. June 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 16th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. June 2023 – July 2025, J8 Special Access Program Coordinator, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. July 2025 – July 2026, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2026 – Present, Deputy Commander, 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2023 – July 2025, J8 Special Access Program Coordinator, the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,300
Combat hours: 595
Aircraft flown: F-16C/D, T-38C and T-37B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two devices
(Current as of June 2026)