EOD leader retires after 31 years

  • Published
  • By John Burt
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  As one of the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the military, Air Force explosive ordnance disposal is not an average day at the office. No one knows that better than Chief Master Sgt. James Brewster, former Air Force EOD career field manager here at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Det.1.

Today, Brewster retires, ending a 31-year career in the Air Force that included 12 deployments and hundreds of EOD missions supporting joint service operations.

From June 2011 to March 2014, Brewster served as the Air Force EOD career field manager, a job he considers the most rewarding of his career, working with members of AFCEC's EOD division to improve training, equipment, safety and care for the more than 1,000 EOD Airmen across the Air Force.

"There is no other senior enlisted leader who has more passion and commitment to developing our Airmen and preparing them for the in-garrison mission and deployments," said Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Lewis, chief of enlisted matters for the Office of the Civil Engineer. "Although I'm confident all our EOD chiefs could perform the career field manager role, Chief Brewster was definitely the right chief at the right time to help shape the next 15 years of Air Force EOD."

"He's the epitome of a chief," added Maj. Jason Warnick, head of AFCEC's EOD division. "Chief Brewster has been the go-to man for the career field and has served the Air Force very well in that role."

Over the last decade, EOD technicians have been in high demand by combatant commanders. Their responsibilities have included locating and rendering safe deadly improvised explosive devices to clear transportation routes in Southwest Asia. As a result, EOD troops have had some of the highest deployment rates in the military.

"We were at the height of our operational tempo when I got here," said Brewster. "We needed to bolster our numbers and strength for the greater good of the Air Force and to help safeguard our Airmen."

Brewster got to work to improve the recruiting and selection process to attract the right type of EOD candidates. AFCEC also worked to transform the EOD Preliminary Course from a six-day class to a 20-day program to better prepare candidates for the physical and mental rigors of EOD school.

"These efforts Chief Brewster and the AFCEC EOD team championed have increased manpower almost 9 percent over the past couple of years," said Warnick. "We are better preparing our candidates for successful graduation and integration at base-level. Chief Brewster made that a top priority and it's paid off."

Another program goal was to see that returning wounded EOD members received medical care and attention that focused on their specific physical, mental and emotional needs. This involved working with the Air Force Medical Operations Agency and the Air Force Surgeon General's office to develop and sponsor an EOD-targeted health care process.

"Our EOD warriors are special and Chief Brewster has ensured they have special medical care to go along with that," said Warnick. "This is not just for military member but for their family members as well. We're still working on aspects of it, but he's the one who got it started, and we'll move it forward from here."

Although Brewster said his tenure as EOD career field manager is the most rewarding assignment of his career, he admits one aspect of the job has been very difficult.

"The hardest part by far has been the reality of losing Airmen," said Brewster. "You lose a piece of yourself each time. I have met with families of our fallen EOD to provide them the information they need to hopefully gain a sense of closure. It's a way to show honor and respect to them and their fallen loved ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice."

Brewster is thankful for key mentors who have helped him throughout his career; however, he said his greatest influence was right at home while growing up.

"My father is my hero," said Brewster. "He is a man of integrity, honesty and impeccable work ethic," said Brewster. "He's got grit, coming from a coal mining family in West Virginia and growing up during the Great Depression."

Brewster's father also worked in munitions while serving 21 years in the Air Force, a factor that led his son to choose Air Force EOD.

As his Air Force career draws to a close, Brewster reflects on his accomplishments.

"I'm most proud of my Airmen, watching them get promoted and be successful," he said. "That's what I'll miss the most."