Battle Creek, Mich. — Maj. Gen. Bryan J. Teff, who rose from a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy to commander of the Michigan Air National Guard, and most recently, a mobilization assistant to the combatant commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), retired after more than three decades of service.
Teff, a command pilot with more than 3,600 hours in the cockpit, including 433 in combat, said his interest in aviation didn’t begin until his time at the academy.
“My initial interest was being able to serve the nation while getting a great education,” Teff said. “Over my four years there, I developed a keen interest in aviation and was very excited to attend pilot training after graduation.”
He went on to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II and later the MQ-9 Reaper, transitioning from traditional attack aircraft to remotely piloted platforms. That flexibility defined a career that took him through key leadership positions at the state and national levels.
One of his career highlights came in 2003, when the 110th Fighter Squadron deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“We were there on day one of the conflict and forward deployed within the first two weeks,” Teff said. “We were an elite fighter unit…our maintenance was the best in the world. We had the most experienced pilots, and we executed to near perfection every day.”
Teff joined the Michigan Air National Guard in 1998 after serving on active duty, drawn to what he described as a culture of excellence. He rose through the ranks, serving as commander of the 110th Wing in Battle Creek, Michigan, and later leading the Michigan Air National Guard’s 2,500 Airmen. His tenure included guiding the force through the COVID-19 pandemic, while also overseeing strategic initiatives, such as the Kelly Johnson Joint All Domain Innovation Center and the National All Domain Warfighting Center.
Through all these changes and challenges, Teff said, “I was very fortunate to have an awesome leadership team plus a very engaged State Command Chief. The outcome was very positive, and the results showed over the next several years.”
Teff also left his mark on the Michigan National Guard’s premier training event, Exercise Northern Strike, which has grown into one of the largest joint reserve component exercises in the country. The idea, he said, grew out of Battle Creek A-10 pilots’ participation in Northern Lightning in Wisconsin in the early 2000s. In 2012, while commander of the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Teff oversaw the first Exercise Northern Strike, initially an Air Force-only exercise. By 2014, it had evolved into a joint event that continues to expand today.
Another initiative under his leadership was the establishment of a wellness center at the 110th Wing, designed to centralize services for Airmen and families — from chaplain support to mental health to financial counseling. Teff recognized the importance and value of wellness programs within the high-demand, low-density operations of the 110th Wing.
“We wanted to provide support … in a single facility where access to these services was in one central location,” Teff said.
Teff’s assignments also included higher headquarters roles at the Air Force Sustainment Center and as mobilization assistant to the NORAD commander, where he advised on homeland defense operations. Over the course of his career, he also participated in multiple overseas operations, including Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Freedom Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve.
Asked what he is most proud of, Teff pointed not to missions or medals, but to people.
“I am most proud of the people I have worked with and the part I played in their development,” he said. “When you see people develop into great leaders and achieve success, it is very satisfying when you know you had a role in their development.”
Looking ahead, Teff said he believes the Air National Guard will play an increasingly central role in the nation’s defense.
“The missions, equipment, and facilities will always change, but our people define who we are,” he said. “Our airmen and families are the key ingredient behind our success.”