Illinois Air National Guard Member Retires After 39 Years of Service

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Air Force Col. Gary L. Brinner of Springfield displays one of his photos of a Frank Lloyd-Wright house, ‘Falling Water.’

SPRINGFIELD, IL (10/06/2011)(readMedia)-- Air Force Col. Gary L. Brinner will retire from the Illinois Air National Guard at Camp Lincoln in Springfield Oct. 31 where he serves as the state's human resources officer. Brinner is a 39-year member of the Illinois Air National Guard and a resident of Central Illinois.

As Brinner's nearly 40-year career with the Air National Guard draws to a close, he shares some advice that's served him well over the years.

"Do your best, focus on your current job, and other opportunities will come to you," said Brinner. "The second thing I'd probably add to that is for every opportunity that you have, there's something you can learn from it."

As a child, Brinner was intrigued by the Airmen and aircraft he saw at Capital Airport and thought he might like to do that, he said. As it turned out, he liked it enough to make it a career.

Brinner enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard in January 1972 with the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield. He was assigned to the 183rd Tactical Fighter Group as a personnel technician.

Brinner received his commission as an officer in the Air National Guard in 1981 and returned to the 183rd Tactical Fighter Group as an executive officer for several years before transferring to the Illinois Air National Guard Headquarters, which was in Chicago at the time, as the personnel programs officer in October 1987.

In June 1990, Brinner found himself back in Springfield as the human resource office staff officer at Headquarters, Illinois Air National Guard. He later accepted his position as the state human resources officer with Joint Force Headquarters for the Illinois National Guard in June 2002.

"Col. Brinner exemplified professionalism for almost four decades," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, the Illinois National Guard Adjutant General. "His leadership and commitment to the needs of our Soldiers and Airmen is one reason our military is as strong as it is today."

One of Brinner's most important accomplishments is his work with the Illinois committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), he said. He's been involved with the ESGR program for more than 20 years, which helps build employer support for troops throughout the state.

"You just see the support that our Soldiers and Airmen, Marines and Sailors get right now when people deploy. It's just phenomenal," said Brinner. "It's very rewarding to have a program that recognizes those employers that do an awful lot for their employees."

The ESGR provides education outreach to employers so they know exactly what their employees go through and the sacrifices they make as servicemembers.

Brinner was also accountable for ensuring Soldiers and Airmen were paid properly and timely during domestic operations in and outside the state. He said the past year has been busy for state active duty missions.

"We did the winter storms, the spring floods; we supported an aviation mission to South Dakota, one to Nebraska and Hurricane Irene," said Brinner. "Since I've been here we've never done that much domestic response," he said.

"He's probably one of the best personnel officers in the country," said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Orvie E. Gunn, of Girard, acting employee relations manager for Headquarters, Illinois Air National Guard, who has known Brinner since 1975. "He's very knowledgeable in every human resource functional area."

Gunn said Brinner is an individual who has been very proactive and instrumental over the years in supporting conversions from older to more modernized human resources

information management systems.

Brinner's first order of business after retiring is a family vacation with his wife and daughter. He also plans to continue serving the ESGR committee as a volunteer and to maintain his lifelong interest in architecture, especially the work of Frank Lloyd-Wright, as a docent for the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield.

photo 1) Photo by Spc. Starr A. Ivey, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/ Air Force Col. Gary L. Brinner of Springfield displays one of his photos of a Frank Lloyd-Wright house, 'Falling Water.' Brinner will retire from the Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Lincoln October 31 where he serves as the state's human resources officer. Brinner is a 39-year member of the Illinois Air National Guard and a resident of Central Illinois.