Brig. Gen. Michael J. Bruno is the Director of Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Colorado. In this role, Brig. Gen. Bruno directly supervises the Joint Staff and is the commander of the standing Joint Task Force-Centennial, responsible for leading the Colorado National Guard’s response to domestic events, as directed by the Governor. Additionally, he directs the Colorado National Guard’s specified partnerships, including those with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Republic of Slovenia.
General Bruno began his military career by enlisting in the Nebraska Air National Guard in May 1985. He transferred to the Colorado Air National Guard in May 1991 and attained the rank of Master Sergeant. He received his commission through the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science in 1998. His initial assignment was as the Executive Officer for the 137th Space Warning Squadron. He later transitioned to Operations as a Space and Missile Warning Officer and Chief of Operations Training. General Bruno has commanded twice at both the Squadron and Group levels, the last as the Commander of the 233d Space Group, Greeley Air National Guard Station, Greeley, Colorado. Prior to his current position, General Bruno was the Chief of Staff – Air, Colorado Air National Guard, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
In his civilian capacity, General Bruno serves as the Deputy Executive Director for the Colorado Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs and acts as the primary deputy to The Adjutant General for all State matters.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude, Columbia College, Aurora, Colo.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar, Harvard University Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1998 - April 2002, Executive Officer, 137th Space Warning Squadron, Greeley Air National Guard Station, Colo.
2. April 2002 - July 2005, Space and Missile Warning Officer, 137th Space Warning Squadron, Greeley ANGS, Colo.
3. July 2005 - July 2006, Chief, Operations Training, 137th Space Warning Squadron, Greeley ANGS, Colo.
4. July 2006 - February 2008, Commander, 140th Mission Support Flight, Buckley AFB, Colo.
5. February 2008 - January 2010, Commander, 140th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
6. January 2010 - March 2011, Commander, 140th Force Support Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo. (November 2010 – May 2011, Director of Operations, 467th Expeditionary Support Squadron, Southwest Asia)
7. March 2011 - March 2014, Deputy Commander, 140th Mission Support Group, Buckley AFB, Colo.
8. March 2014 - December 2014, Director, Manpower and Personnel (J1), Joint Forces Headquarters–Colorado, Centennial, Colo.
9. December 2014 - May 2017, Commander, 140th Mission Support Group, Buckley AFB, Colo.
10. May 2017 - June 2020, Commander, 233d Space Group, Greeley ANGS, Colo.
11. June 2020 - October 2022, Chief of Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters - Colorado, Centennial, Colo.
12. October 2022 - December 2022, Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Colorado Air National Guard, Buckley Space Force Base, Colo.
13. December 2022 - Present, Chief of Staff, Centennial, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 24, 1998
First Lieutenant Sept. 24, 2000
Captain Oct. 6, 2002
Major Oct. 15, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 30, 2011
Colonel Aug. 6, 2017
Brigadier General Dec. 12, 2022
(Current as of March 2025)