Lieutenant Colonel Bryson M. Rintala is the Deputy Director of the Officer of Labor and Economic Analysis (OLEA) and Assistant Professor of Economics for the Department of Economics and Geosciences (DFEG). Both positions are located within the Dean of Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. OLEA applies labor and economic analysis to inform Department of the Air Force leaders on personnel policy and programs across the talent management system to attract, employ, and retain talented Air and Space professionals.

This is his second assignment under the Dean of Faculty. Prior to returning to the Academy, Lieutenant Colonel Rintala served as the B-1 Deputy Division Chief and B-1 Deputy System Program Manager in the Bombers Directorate at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where he directed the total life cycle management of the 45 aircraft in the B-1 bomber fleet. He was responsible for the modernization and sustainment, acquisition of new capabilities, upgrades to existing systems, programmed depot and software maintenance, weapons integration, and fleet support logistics. During his first assignment at the Academy, he served as a Staff Economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers in Washington, D.C.

He is married, has three children, and two labradoodles. He received his commission from the Academy where he played on both the NCAA Division I hockey and golf teams. During his career he has enjoyed competing in 140.6-mile and 70.3-mile Ironman Triathlons and travelling to his children’s club volleyball state, regional, and national events.

B.S., Economics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado (2005)

Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas (2005)

Air and Space Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama (2006)

M.A., Education, University of West Florida, Florida (2009)

Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama (2011)

M.A., Economics, University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado (2014)

Air Command and Staff College, Air University, by correspondence (2018)

Ph.D., Health Economics, University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado (2020)

Air War College, Air University, by correspondence (2023)

Accessories Flight Commander, 6th Maintenance Squadron, MacDill AFB, Florida (Aug 2005 – Oct 2006)

Aircraft Maintenance Assistant Officer in Charge, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, MacDill AFB, Florida (Oct 2006 – Jun 2008)

Aircraft Support Flight Commander, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, MacDill AFB, Florida (Jun 2008 – Aug 2009)

Special Operations Forces C-130 Modification Program Manager, Special Operations and Personnel Recovery Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (Aug 2009 – Jun 2011)

Executive Officer, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (Jun 2011 – Jun 2012)

Classified Projects Program Manager, Big Safari Systems Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (Jun 2012 – Jul 2013)

Air Force Institute of Technology Masters Student, University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado (Jul 2013 – Jan 2015)

Assistant Professor of Economics and Director of Personnel, DFEG, USAFA, Colorado (Jan 2015 – Aug 2017)

Air Force Institute of Technology Doctor of Philosophy Student, University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado (Aug 2017 – Aug 2020)

B-1 Deputy Division Chief and B-1 Deputy System Program Manager, Bombers Directorate, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (Aug 2020 – Jul 2023)

Deputy Director of the Office of Labor and Economic Analysis and Assistant Professor of Economics, DFEG, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado (Jul 2023 – present)

Labor Economics

Health Economics

Economics of Education