Lt Col Brander-Soto has been assigned to numerous Wings and Headquarters staffs stateside and overseas, serving within Joint, Coalition, and Air Force organizations.  Her staff assignments include Chief of Public Affairs Plans and Policies for U.S. Forces Korea, Media Operations Officer for U.S. Air Force Space Command, and Aide-de-Camp to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Lt Col Brander-Soto also led Public Affairs efforts at the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base in the Republic of Korea, the 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida during the wing’s transition from the F-15C to the F-35A, and stood up the Public Affairs program for the Air Force’s first Remotely Piloted Aircraft wing at the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force, Nevada.  Lt Col Brander-Soto has deployed in support of Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

EDUCATION
2002   Bachelor of Art, Political Communications, The George Washington University, Washington D.C.

2002   Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2003   Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md.

2008   Joint Expeditionary Public Affairs Course, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md.

2009   Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2012   Masters of Art, Communication and Leadership, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash.

2012   Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2016   Air Force Strategic Policy Fellowship, Intermediate Development Education, Washington, D.C.

 

ASSIGNMENTS

1.  June 2002 – July 2005, Public Affairs Officer, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas

2.  July 2005 – July 2006, Deputy Chief, Public Affairs, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea

3.  July 2006 – July 2008, Chief, Public Affairs, 33d Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.

4.  July 2008 – Jan. 2010, Chief, Public Affairs, 432d Wing and 432d Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.

5.  Jan. 2010 – Jan. 2011, Wing Executive Officer, 432d Wing and 432d Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech AFB, Nev.

6.  Jan. 2011 – Jan. 2012, Chief, Public Affairs Plans and Policies, U.S. Forces Korea, USAG Yongsan, ROK

7.  Jan. 2012 – Feb. 2014, Media Operations Officer, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.

8.  Feb. 2014 – July 2015, Aide-de-Camp to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC.

9.  July 2015 – June 2016, Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., with duty in Washington, DC.

10.  Sep 2016 – June 2018, Public Affairs Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Headquarters Air Force Executive Action Group, Air Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC.

11.  June 2018 - present, Commander, 436th Force Support Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.

 

 

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star

Defense Meritorious Service Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster)

Meritorious Service Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster)

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters)

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Air Force Achievement Medal

Meritorious Unit Award

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Iraq Campaign Medal

Korean Defense Service Medal

 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

2013 Air Force Public Affairs Award for Communication Excellence, Outstanding Field Grade Officer

2012 Air Force Space Command Outstanding Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year

2012 Air Force Space Command "Best of the Best" Public Affairs Officers

2008 Air Combat Command Public Affairs Best Overall Communication Program

2007 Air Combat Command Public Affairs Best Issue Management

2007 Air Combat Command Public Best Innovative Communication Program

 

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant              May 17, 2002

First Lieutenant                    May 29, 2004

Captain                                  May 29, 2006

Major                                      July 1, 2012

Lieutenant Colonel              Dec. 1, 2016

 

(Current as of July 2018)