COL Brian J. Pipkin enlisted in the South Carolina Army National Guard in August 1997. He was commissioned in 1999 upon graduation from The University of South Carolina. After his commissioning, he attended the Army’s Rotary Wing Flight School and was awarded the Army Aviator’s Badge in 2001. As an AH-64A Pilot in Command, AH-64D Instructor Pilot and Master Aviator he has flown over 2000 flying hours including three overseas deployments. Before serving as the Chief of Staff, COL Pipkin was the State Army Aviation Officer for the South Carolina National Guard.
Assignments
Platoon Leader, Bravo Company, 1-151
st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Eastover, South Carolina
Company Commander, Bravo Company, 1-151
st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Eastover, South Carolina (Iraq)
Assistant Operations Officer, 1-151
st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Eastover, South Carolina
Personnel Officer, 59
th Aviation Troop Command, Eastover, South Carolina
Operations Officer, 1-151
st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Eastover, South Carolina (Iraq/Kuwait)
Executive Officer, 1-151
st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Eastover, South Carolina
South Carolina State Training Officer, South Carolina National Guard, Columbia, South Carolina
Deputy G1, South Carolina National Guard, Columbia
Commander, 1-151
st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, Eastover, South Carolina (Afghanistan)
Deputy G3, South Carolina National Guard, Columbia, South Carolina
Assistant Chief of Staff, South Carolina National Guard, Columbia, South Carolina
Brigade Commander, 59th Aviation Troop Command, Eastover, South Carolina
Education
Aviation Officer Basic Course, 2000
Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) Qualification, 2001
AH-64A Qualification Course, 2001
Aviation Maintenance Managers Course, 2004
Army Aviation Captain’s Career Course, 2007
Combined Arms Exercise Course, 2008
AH-64D Aviation Qualification Course, 2008
AH-64D Instructor Pilot Qualification Course, 2010
Joint Fire Power Course, 2014
Command and General Staff Officers Course, 2015
Advanced Operations Course, 2017
National War College, 2022
Awards and Decorations
Bronze Star Medal (3rd Award)
Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award)
Air Medal (2nd Award)
Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award)
National Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award)
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (3rd Award)
Master Army Aviator Badge
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device and 10 year Bronze Hourglass
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Combat Action Badge
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars
Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Citation (2nd Award)
SCARNG Mobilization Ribbon
SCARNG Safety Ribbon
(Current as of April 30, 2026)