Team Edwards remembers 95th ABW commander Published Feb. 11, 2008 By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The roar of four F-16 Fighting Falcons during a missing-man formation reverberated through the walls of hangar 1820 as Team Edwards bid goodbye to Col. Bryan J. Gallagher during a memorial service Feb. 11. Colonel Gallagher, 95th Air Base Wing commander, died after he was found unconscious at the Rosburg Fitness Center parking lot Feb. 5. "Bryan was a commander in every sense of the word," said Brig. Gen. David Eichhorn, Air Force Flight Test Center commander. "He proved himself in every job he had. As the air base wing commander, he knew his decisions affected people's lives, and he knew that a decisive and caring leader would do the most good to the base and its mission." The hangar was filled with more than 1,200 Edwards Airmen, civilians and visitors to commemorate Colonel Gallagher's life as a husband, father, friend and Airman. The Portland, Ore., native was a civil engineer officer commissioned from the Officer Training School in 1987, following enlisted service that culminated in the rank of technical sergeant with the Medical Service Corps. His operational deployments included Operation Desert Shield and Storm, Operation Sea Signal and Operation Enduring Freedom. Colonel Gallagher has commanded three squadrons -- 48th Morale Welfare and Recreation Squadron in Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England; 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron in McChord Air Force Base, Wash.; and the 405th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Oman. Most recently, he served as the vice commander of the 95th Air Base Wing at Edwards Air Force Base. "As the air base wing commander, he knew from the start that he had a limited time to make a difference," General Eichhorn said. "You only have so much time in these kind of jobs. But he put the full force of his talent and energy to work to ensure the base was made better for his having been here." According to Col. Michael Woolley, 95th Mission Support Group commander, when Colonel Gallagher received his commission, he took his obligation freely, without any reservation. "He swore an oath to defend the constitution of the United States America and obeyed the orders of the president," Colonel Woolley said. "When he was asked to serve in the position of leadership, Bryan Gallagher did so and displayed it in the most compassionate, caring traits I have ever seen on a leader." Colonel Gallagher never forgot he was an American fighting for freedom, he said. "He knew that he was a patriotic American fighting the force to guard his country and his way of life," Colonel Woolley said. During his leadership, Colonel Gallagher left his legacy to Team Edwards -- new housing, solid partnership with the local community, a better school system through the Center of Excellence and an energy self-sufficient base, General Eichhorn said. His legacies were rooted from the two visions he had for the 95th ABW -- deliver excellence in installation support and organize, train, equip and provide combat-ready Airmen, both military and civilians. During the memorial service, General Eichhorn presented a posthumous Legion of Merit to Colonel Gallagher, who distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct and the performance of outstanding service to the United States as both vice commander and commander of 95th ABW. The memorial service also had readings from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions and a tribute from the Edwards fire department. Col. Nancy Wharton, acting 95th ABW commander, also read a letter from Colonel Gallagher's wife, Robyne Rentz, and their daughter, Morgan. "To the men and women of the 95th Air Base Wing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for my spouse, my rock, my Wingman; Colonel Gallagher," Colonel Wharton read. "It was his honor and pleasure to serve each and every one of you as his commander." He left an indelible mark on men and women of the Wing, Edwards Air Force Base and the Air Force, General Eichhorn said. "For now and forever more, (Colonel Gallagher) will always be our Wingman," he said.