Colonel Brual takes command of Wing One

  • Published
  • By Airman Cortney Paxton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Col. Heraldo B. Brual became the 34th commander of the 341st Missile Wing during an Assumption of Command Ceremony Aug. 29.

Brual arrived at Malmstrom Aug. 16 and succeeds Brig. Gen. Anthony Cotton, who departed Malmstrom Aug. 22 with his family.

"Desiree, William, Allison and I are incredibly excited to be here in the great state of Montana and living in the city of Great Falls," Brual said.

Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston, 20th Air Force commander, who presided over the ceremony, recognized the successes of Cotton and expressed his confidence in Brual's leadership ability, before passing the 341st MW guidon and responsibilities to the new commander.

"I want to express my deepest thanks to Tony and Marsha Cotton for their inexhaustible support for the Airmen and families of this wing," Alston said. "Of all of the good that has occurred on the Cotton's watch, it was their efforts to take care of the men and women of this wing that stands out."

Alston's confidence in Brual's new position as Wing One's commander was evident throughout the ceremony as he expressed past experiences, accomplishments and personal encounters with the colonel within Air Force leadership.

"This wing has been blessed once again with a leader who has proven over and over again that he is absolutely prepared to take this wing to the next level of performance," he said. "Col. H.B. Brual is an outstanding leader proven at every level."

In Alston's closing statements he expressed his unwavering confidence in Brual's ability to lead. Following the story of how Brual came to Malmstrom, Alston stated, "This leader is as ready as anybody has ever been to take over an ICBM wing. The wing is in great hands."

The ceremony continued with Alston passing the 341st MW guidon to Brual where he was then able to address his new troops and all others attending the event officially as the new commander of Wing One.

"This wing, Wing One, has been the nation's Ace in the Hole..." Brual said. "We must be ever vigilant in our duties, mindful of our responsibilities and continuously looking for ways to improve. I think you'll hear that as a common theme throughout my command... My promise to you is that I will work with your commanders and leadership at all levels to ensure that you have the resources required to perform your job and that you have a work environment that enables you to reach your maximum potential. Desiree and I look forward to meeting you and your families as we work together to make Wing One and Malmstrom Air Force Base the best in command."

Brual was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1988. He started his career as a Minuteman III Combat Crew Instructor at Minot AFB, N.D. and has served various positions. Colonel Brual's previous assignments include Vice Commander, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo., Chief of the Architecture Division, U.S. Nuclear Command and Control System Support Staff at Falls Church, Va., Chief of GPS Software Verification and Validation for the 2nd Space Operations Squadron and Chief of Evaluations for the 50th Operations Group at Schriever AFB, and Commander of the 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D. Additionally, he was the Commander of the Air Force Inspection Agency in Kirtland AFB, N.M., before accepting his assignment to Malmstrom.