Col Brande Newsome is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Policy and Resources, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Falls Church, Virginia. The directorate is responsible for the development and execution of Air Force Medical Service policy, plans, budgets, and programs for the delivery of comprehensive operational healthcare and health service support to Department of the Air Force missions by 43,000 active-duty officers, enlisted, and civilian medical personnel at 76 installations with a budget of more than $6.2 billion. Additionally, Col Newsome serves as a Senior Leader for the Reserve Social Work career field providing oversight to force development, education and training requirements.
Col Newsome enlisted in the Army Reserves as a combat medic in 1993, prior to her transition to the Air Force Reserves as a mental health technician in 1996. She was commissioned in 2004 as a Licensed Certified Social Worker. She deployed in 2008 to the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, and again in 2009 to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, to serve in the role of Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, directing prevention, response, and awareness across the installations.
Col Newsome previously served as Commander of the 914th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Niagara Falls Air Refueling Wing, New York where she directed a 150-bed medical unit responsible for providing component commanders with medically ready KC-135 tanker crews and deployed medically ready medics to deliver en-route patient staging to facilitate patient movement and return to duty. In addition, she held the positions of Deputy Director, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Medical Directorate, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. and Chief, Medical Administrative Officer, 22 Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Marietta, Georgia.
In her DoD civilian capacity, Col Newsome is the Division Chief for Integrated Resilience and Prevention, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C. She provides oversight to primary prevention and resilience policy and programs. Prior to joining the Air Staff, Col Newsome served as the Air Force Reserve Command, Integrated Resilience Branch Chief, Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia, providing oversight to budget preparation and submission, posture paper inputs, comprehensive Airmen fitness efforts, the transition assistance program, Military & Family Readiness, fitness, health promotions, the Community Action Board, the Community Action Team, the civilian employee assistance program and Airmen quality of life priorities.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Sociology, SUNY Buffalo State College, Buffalo, N.Y.
1999 Non-Commissioned Officer Prep Course, Sheppard AFB, Tx
2002 Master of Social Work, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2002 Certificate of Women's Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2008 Master of Business Administration, Medaille College, Rochester, N.Y.
2008 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence.
2015 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence.
2019 Air War College, by correspondence.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. February 1993 - August 1996, Combat Medic, Army Reserve, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
2. August 1996 - August 2004, Mental Health Technician, Air Force Reserve, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
3. August 2004 - May 2015, Clinical Social Worker, Air Force Reserve, Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Deployed September 2008-January 2009, SARC, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing) (Deployed September 2009-December 2010, SARC, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing)
4. May 2015 - November 2018, Medical Liaison Officer, 22 Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.
5. November 2018 - January 2020, Chief, Medical Administrative Officer, 22 Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
6. January 2020 – December 2022, Deputy Director, Reserve Medical Directorate, Department of Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. December 2022 – October 2025, Commander, 914th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, 914 Air Refueling Wing, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
8. October 2025 – Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Policy and Resources, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with One Device
National Defense Service Medal with One Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air and Space Longevity Service with Five Oak Leaf Clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Two Hourglass Devices and Two “M” Devices
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Specialist September 18, 1995
Staff Sergeant January 1, 2000
Technical Sergeant May 1, 2002
First Lieutenant July 6, 2003
Captain January 24, 2007
Major March 14, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel August 24, 2017
Colonel July 1, 2022
(Current as of March 2026)