Colonel Sarah J. Brehm is Commander, Cadet Group 1 at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. She guides military, leadership, character development, and expeditionary skills training for a 1,000-member Cadet Group in addition to providing facilities and logistical support.

Prior to her current position, Col Brehm was a Senior Research Analyst at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE), Global Shaping Division, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. She led Department of Defense-wide program review and developed program alternatives to address Secretary of Defense priorities. She previously served as the Commander of the 34th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Employing U-28A aircraft, she was responsible for global special operations taskings as the Air Force component member of the United States Special Operations Command. She directed, planned, prepared, and executed U-28A missions providing manned fixed-wing on-demand and surge capability for tactical airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and targeting in support of special operations forces.

Col Brehm was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She is a 2004 graduate of the Academy and has spent most of her career in special operations aviation assignments, deploying extensively. Col Brehm is a Command Pilot with more than 4,000 hours in the DA-20, T-6A, T-1A, C-21A and U-28A. She is married to Lt Col Paul Brehm. They have 2 children: Henry, 11, and Hannah, 9.

Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, V.A. (2024)

Executive Certificate in Facilitation, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (2023)

Executive Certificate in the People’s Liberation Army, National Bureau of Asian Research, Washington, D.C. (2023)

Professional Certificate in Innovation, University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Mich., and Air University, Ala. (2022)

Master of Philosophy, Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.(2019)

Distinguished Graduate, Master of Arts, Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.(2018)

Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence (2013)

Master of Science, Leadership and Business Ethics, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa.(2010)

Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (2010)

Bachelor of Science, Political Science and Foreign Area Studies, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2004)

Commander, Cadet Group 1, United States Air Force Academy, Colo. (June 2025-Present)

Senior Analyst, OSD/CAPE, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (June 2023-June 2025)

Project Everest National Defense Fellow, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Arlington, Va. (July 2022-June 2023)

Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (April 2022-June 2022)

Commander, 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (December 2019-April 2022)

Director, Commander’s Action Group, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (June 2019-December 2019)

Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (July 2018-June 2019)

Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (June 2017–June 2018)

Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N.M. (July 2016–June 2017)

Assistant Operations Officer and Flight Examiner Pilot, 318th Special Operations Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M. (April 2014–July 2016)

Programming Officer and Flight Examiner Pilot, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (July 2013–April 2014)

Executive Officer and Flight Examiner Pilot, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (March 2012–July 2013)

U-28 Evaluator Pilot, Chief of Safety and Flight Commander, 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (April 2010–March 2012)

U-28A Aircraft Commander and Safety Officer, 319th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (May 2009–April 2010)

U-28A Student Pilot, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (June 2008–May 2009)

C-21A Aircraft Commander and Mission Planning Officer, 457th Airlift Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md. (March 2006–May 2008)

T-1A Student Pilot, 48th Flying Training Squadron, Columbus AFB, Miss. (August 2005–March 2006)

T-6A Student Pilot, 479th Flying Training Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (January 2005–August 2005)

DA-20 Student Pilot, 557th Flying Training Squadron, United States Air Force Academy, Colo. (August 2004–January 2005)

Defense Superior Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Medal with fifteen oak leaf clusters

Aerial Achievement Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Effective Dates of Promotion

Colonel (May 2023)

Lieutenant Colonel (Nov. 2017)

Major (June 2014)

Captain (June 2008)

First Lieutenant (June 2006)

Second Lieutenant (June 2004)