Mentors

Guiding the Power of Business. Strengthening Community.

Mentor

Colonel Arnold W. Bunch, Jr.

Company/Affiliation:

Eglin Air Force Base

Address:

96th Air Base Wing
Office of Public Affairs
101 West D Avenue, Suite 110
Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5498

Bio / Experience:

COLONEL ARNOLD W. BUNCH, JR.
Colonel Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., is the vice commander of the Air Armament Center, Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The center is responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, and deployment of all air-delivered weapons. Additionally, AAC plans, directs and conducts test and evaluation of U.S. and allied air armament, navigation/guidance systems, and Command and Control (C2) systems. The center supports the largest single base mobility commitment for Air Force Materiel Command and the second largest in the Air Force.

Colonel Bunch entered the Air Force in 1984 following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Following commissioning, Colonel Bunch completed undergraduate pilot training in 1985. He has served an operational assignment in B-52s as an instructor and evaluator aircraft commander. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Colonel Bunch conducted developmental testing in the B-2 and B-52 and served as an instructor in each. He served as Commander, 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, Calif., prior to his current assignment.

EDUCATION:
1984 Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1991 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1994 Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering, California State University Fresno, Edwards AFB, Calif.
1996 Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
2000 Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS:
1.July 1984 - July 1985, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2.August 1985 - December 1985, Student, B-52 Combat Crew Training School, Castle AFB, Calif.
3.January 1986 - June 1990, Standardization/Evaluation Instructor Aircraft Commander, 325th Bomb Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
4.July 1990 - June 1991, Student, United States Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, Calif.
5.July 1991 - June 1992, Test Pilot, 6512th Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
6. July 1992 - June 1995, Test Pilot, 420th Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
7.June 1995 - June 1996, Student, United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
8.July 1996 - July 1999, Chief, B-1 Test and Evaluation, B-1 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9.August 1999 - June 2000, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
10.June 2000 - July 2002, Commander, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
11.August 2002 - April 2003, Chief, AFMC Senior Officer Management, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12.April 2003 – June 2004, Deputy Chief, Combat Forces Division, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
13. June 2004 – January 2006, Director, Munitions Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Eglin AFB, Fla.
14. January 2006 – May 2008, Commander, 412th Test Wing, Edwards AFB, Calif.
15. June 2008 – present, Vice Commander, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla.

FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Rating:Command Pilot
Flight hours:2500+ hours
Aircraft flown:B-52, B-2, KC-135, F-16, T-38, and others

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 30, 1984
First Lieutenant May 30, 1986
Captain May 30, 1988
Major December 1, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 1998
Colonel June 1, 2004

(Current as of June 2008)