Colonel (ret) Brooks McFarland is the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor of Air Force JROTC Detachment TX-20093 at Wylie East High School, Wylie, Texas.  He and his wife Susan (formerly Susan Garrett of Garland TX) met while both were attending Texas A&M and have two grown children, one granddaughte, and a friendly golden retriever, Dani.  After many years of moving around in the Air Force, Brooks and Susan are enjoying being back in Texas close to family. 

Colonel McFarland graduated from Joshua High School, Joshua, Texas, in 1987, and from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, in 1991. He received his commission from Officer Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas, in 1993.  Over a 23-year military career, he commanded at the squadron and group levels and served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, on the Joint Staff, the Air Staff, in the Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan and various operational Wings across the Air Force.  At the operational level, Col McFarland led flightline, support, and/or depot-level maintenance for B-1, B-52, C-130, E-8, F-15C, F-15E, F-16, KC-135 and RC-135 aircraft in garrison and during combat deployments.  He also advised, trained and equipped the Afghan National Army and Police Corps during combat operations on the ground in Afghanistan.  Col McFarland retired from active duty on 1 November 2016 upon completing command of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, where he led efforts to provide combat sortie generation capability and aircraft/munitions maintenance support for Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.  Prior to his final deployment, Col McFarland commanded a Group within the 28th Bomb Wing, whose heritage extends from the famed Doolittle Raiders.  Leading this command for two of his last 3 years in the Air Force, Col McFarland's radio call sign was "Raider 4."  Since retiring from active duty and joining the Wylie East family, he has been pleased to add a final word to the moniker...Raider 4 Life.   

EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science in Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 Master of Arts in Organizational Management, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2005 Master of Logistics Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2006 Master of Art and Science in Airpower, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Master of Defense Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal
Air Force Institute of Technology Distinguished Graduate & Peppers Award for Outstanding Research - 2005
7th Bomb Wing and Team Dyess Company Grade Officer of the Year - 2001
Air Force Materiel Command Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez Outstanding Company Grade Maintenance Professional of the Year - 1997