Robert Huntington Brannon

Air Force

Colonel Robert H. “Bob” Brannon, USAF (Ret.), 78, passed away on December 17, 2025. He was born on September 13, 1947, and devoted his life to service, leadership, and the advancement of aeromedical evacuation and medical operations across the U.S. Air Force.

Bob was an avid learner who believed in hands-on training. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston in 1969 and a Master of Science from Trinity University in 1976. He was a distinguished graduate of Squadron Officer School in 1977 and completed the Air Command and Staff College nonresident program in 1988.

Commissioned in 1969 as honor graduate, Bob began at the 5280th Hospital, Holloman AFB, then volunteered for Vietnam with the 22nd Casualty Staging Unit at Da Nang. He later commanded at George and Vandenberg; served at Sheppard in supply, mental health, resource management; and earned Instructor of the Year (1980). He commanded clinics at Vance AFB, OK; RAF Chicksands, England; and San Vito, Italy; served as Senior Fellow in health policy; and commanded the 1st AES at Pope AFB during JUST CAUSE and DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. He then commanded the 2nd AES at Ramstein AB, directing PROVIDE PROMISE and serving as mission commander in Sarajevo. He finished commanding the 27th Medical Group (Cannon) and 882nd Training Group (Sheppard), retiring in 1997.

Beyond the uniform, Bob was a flaming extrovert—“Tequila Bob” to friends and peers—ever at the center of good humor and camaraderie. He pursued fitness with passion, kept a crossword puzzle at hand (always in ink), ran marathons, and completed century bike rides. He championed community fitness trails, authored a family history tracing service back to the Civil War, and, with his wife, donned a kilt to perform with the San Antonio Black Bexar Pipe Band on bass and tenor drums.

Bob is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sue Q. Brannon; his son, Robert H. Brannon Jr.; his daughter, Becky B. Lucas; six granddaughters; and his brother, Bill Brannon.