Retired Air Force General Bruce Carlson began his 38-year military career as a commissioned officer in 1971, after graduating with distinction from the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in accounting. Following flight school, he flew fighter and forward air control aircraft, serving a combat tour in Southeast Asia. He also is a graduate of the Air Force’s Fighter Weapons School.
As a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours in several fighter aircraft, he commanded the Air Force’s first stealth fighter wing, the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. He also served in the offices of the secretary of the Air Force and secretary of defense and as the director, J-8 Force Structure, Resources and Assessment on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In his final assignment he commanded the Air Force’s Materiel Command at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Following his retirement from active duty, General Carlson was asked by the Obama Administration to serve as the 17th director of the National Reconnaissance Office for three years. Currently, he is a member of Lockheed Martin’s board of directors and serves as chair of the USU Space Dynamics Laboratory Board of Directors and as chair of the SDL Guidance Council.
Through his work with SDL, Bruce has a strong connection to USU. His business success has afforded him the opportunity to give back to the university, where he generously supports nearly every area of campus.
Bruce and his wife of 54 years, Vicki, have three children and 14 grandchildren.
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