I am a Wyoming native, a graduate of the University of Wyoming Engineering College and the United States Naval War College. I am also a retired Marine Corps Colonel, Naval Aviator, and combat veteran. I am an American patriot dedicated to the service of our great nation who will always stand for our Flag and defend our Constitution. I believe in the American Dream, American Exceptionalism, and the American Spirit and will bring that with me as your Wyoming Governor.
I am also the father to three grown daughters and husband to Susan, who also served our Nation as a Navy Nurse. My family has a legacy of service as I am the son and brother of Marine Corps Officers. I am keenly aware of the sacrifices laid upon the altar of our freedom. I will bring my years of experience as a leader in the military to the Wyoming Governor’s office.
After 28 years in the USMC, I returned to Wyoming in 2019 and took a position as the Director of Safety Big Horn Airways. When Governor Gordon locked down the state during COVID, an attack on freedom and liberty, I decided to run for Wyoming Governor to protect our Constitutional freedom.
While on the campaign trail for Wyoming Governor in 2022, I heard what the people of this State wanted and needed from the next Wyoming Governor. The people want lower property taxes, schools that teach the four areas traditional areas of study, not woke left wing ideologies. The people want less Government over reach, State Sovereignty and less Federal restrictions. They want safe and secure elections.
After hearing the same issues from so many people, I formed BCR Ballot Initiatives, a committee that filed the first successful Peoples Ballot Initiative in 30 years. The Ballot Initiative will cut residential property taxes 50%. BCR also has an election security ballot issue in the hands of the Secretary of State’s office at this time (Spring, 2025) .
It was an honor to represent Wyoming in Milwaukee at the RNC in 2024 to nominate DJT as a Delegate from Park County and I was also honored to be elected to serve as one of Wyoming’s 3 State Electors in the US Electoral College to cast our state’s vote for Trump.
There is nothing I value more than God, freedom and liberty and I will serve as an unwavering principled Conservative as your next Wyoming Governor.
PROFESSIONAL RESUME
Brent W. Bien
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
➣Strategic and operations professional with extensive background in leadership positions and personnel management.
➣Diverse leadership spanning aviation, ground, and logistics integration in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
➣Thorough knowledge of the NEPA process relative to large construction projects and easement applications.
➣Significant experience working with senior Federal, state, and local officials coupled with multi-national partners.
➣Leadership and mentorship in cross-functional organizations and Joint Services to solve multi-domain problems.
➣Combat veteran with over 500 mishap free combat flight hours in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
➣Set the example, take the initiative, speak truthfully, seek responsibility, and accept accountability for my actions.
➣Build teams, trust and empower people, encourage initiative and decision making, and reward performance.
➣Results and goal oriented; set and expect high standards and discipline to processes and procedures.
➣Thrive on overcoming challenges and solving problems in uncertain and ambiguous environments.
➣Meet or exceed objectives within time and fiscal constraints through resourceful planning and timely decisions.
➣Inspire critical, creative, and non-parochial thinking and ideas for improved efficiency and effectiveness.
➣Create opportunities; build strategic partnerships by maintaining enduring personal relationships and earning trust.
MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
➣Develop and implement efficient and effective business and operations strategies and practices.
➣Transform organizational and enterprise performance for greater optimization and sustainment.
➣Define more effective processes and procedures at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.
➣Strict adherence to governing standards, discipline to established procedures, accountability through routine audits.
➣Balance risk reduction with accelerated productivity and fiscal constraints through decision making agility.
➣Diverse aviation professional; provide operational consultation and mentor partners.
KEY POLITICAL INITIATIVES, EXECUTIVE POSITIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
➣October 2023-Present. Ballot Initiatives
➣2024: -Building organizational staff and network to facilitate a candidacy for the 2026 Wyoming Gubernatorial race.
➣Elected as one of the three Wyoming Electoral College voters for the 2024 General Election.
➣Elected as the National Delegate from Park County, WY to represent Wyoming at the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee, WI; elected to the Credentials Committee.
➣Elected to the state delegation to represent Park County, WY at the Republican State Convention held in Cheyenne, WY; elected to the Platforms Committee.
➣Chairman of a political action committee (PAC) comprised of experienced, talented, and America-First/Wyoming-First patriots who developed and led a ballot initiative designed to reduce residential property tax by 50% of the assessed value of the primary residence of Wyoming residents through a homeowner’s exemption. The PAC built a team of over 340 volunteer circulators across Wyoming that garnered the signatures of over 44,000 Wyoming residents in seven months. The initiative was filed with the WY Secretary of State and will be placed on the 2026 general election ballot.
➣The same PAC initiated a subsequent ballot initiative in January 2024 specifically to remove all ES&S electronic voting systems from Wyoming and make hand tabulation the primary means of counting election ballots in all Wyoming elections. Once completed, this ballot initiative will be placed on the 2026 general election ballot. Simultaneously working with nationwide experts on electronic voting systems and determined that most of the 23 Wyoming counties were not in compliance with Election Assistance Commission certification for both the 2022 primary and general elections and the 2024 primary and general elections.
The PAC objectives for the 2025 Wyoming legislative session were to initiate and promote legislation for the following:
a) removal of all ES&S electronic vote tabulation systems from Wyoming elections; b) institute run-off elections for all Wyoming elections; and c) meaningful property tax relief and reform.
March-August 2022. Wyoming Gubernatorial Candidate
Led a rigorous 5.5-month pro-freedom campaign to replace the incumbent governor due to his pro-globalist and pro-environmentalist policies and poor response to COVID-19 that resulted in unconstitutional restrictions of Wyoming residents, the unnecessary and prolonged closing of nearly 7,000 small businesses across the state, and the implementation of draconian rules that placed the welfare of many residents in jeopardy. The campaign was based on protecting personal liberties, pursuing government accountability, and promoting state sovereignty aimed at making
Wyoming the freest state in the nation; at the time, Wyoming was ranked 16th freest according to the Cato Institute.
Garnered over 30% of the primary vote in a field of four candidates spending less than $100,000 and traveling over 75,000 miles across the state to attend a multitude of events. A subsequent voter-driven gubernatorial write-in campaign was conducted for the general election that broke all previous state records.
January 2020-October 2021. Director of Safety and Standardization, Bighorn Airways, Sheridan, WY
Ensured that Bighorn Airways (BHA), one of Wyoming’s largest aviation providers, remained compliant with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and other governing health and safety regulations. Initiated multiple revisions of the company’s Safety Management System (SMS) Manual with the goals of attaining International Standard for Business
Aircraft Operations (ISBAO) Stages I and II certifications and revitalizing the hazard reporting system. Developed multiple safety performance indicators and targets focused on key company safety parameters and methods to track their effectiveness. Worked and coordinated with the Wyoming State Risk Management Office and Department of Workforce Services to improve company safety equipment and incorporate a company Health and Safety Program thereby reducing BHA Workers Compensation rates by 10% for FY21. Highlighted the necessity of, developed standardized procedures for, and initiated training with the National Airspace Manager, Regional Airspace Managers, U.S. Department of Interior (DoI), the U.S. Navy (USN), and U.S. Air Force (USAF), and other similar DoI contractors, for airspace deconfliction in Military Operating Areas between military and smokejumper aircraft throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS EXECUTIVE POSITIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND INITIATIVES
July-September 2019. Out-processing and Relocation for Retirement, Camp LeJeune, NC to Sheridan, WY
August 2016-June 2019. Officer-in-Charge, Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI), Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Guam Colonel. Led a multi-functional team of U.S. Government military, civilian, and contract professionals developing future U.S. Marine Corps operations, logistics, facilities, and infrastructure requirements in the Asia-Pacific region for the relocation and sustainment of 6,500 Marines and family members from Okinawa, Japan to Guam. Expedited the DPRI Guam initial operating capability timeline from two years behind schedule to two years ahead of schedule. Ensured alignment, accountability, and oversight of an $8.7 Billion construction program with end user requirements managing the planning and design of aviation and ground facilities and infrastructure under U.S./Japan bi-lateral agreements.
Initiated and led the measure to name Marine Corps Base Guam (first new USMC base built in generations) after the first non-white, and first Chamorro (Guam native) general officer in Marine Corps history, Vincente Blaz; the Secretary of the Navy officially approved “Marine Corps Base Guam, Camp Blaz” in October 2018. Initiated and led the designation of USN littoral property on Guam, coordinating with local and Federal agencies to ensure National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) compliance, for use as an amphibious landing and training site for USMC, Joint, and Multi-lateral
Forces; the first of its kind in decades. Led the effort to define and formalize airspace on Guam, Tinian, and Pagan for future Joint military use through coordination with the FAA and local governments. Initiated and led an effort to establish and formalize an apprenticeship program designed to train local high students in critical technical skills desired by local construction contractors; coordinated across Federal agencies and Guam Department of Labor to ensure
placement upon high school graduation. Initiated a plan to reorganize and develop the Joint regional command structure designed to maximize command and control of the largest military training area in the Department of Defense (DoD). Led the recovery effort on Tinian in October 2018, coordinating directly with the Governor, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Joint forces, after Super Typhoon Yutu devastated the island’s infrastructure.
Expanded the Marine Corps Reserve Toys-for-Tots program to reach children on all inhabited islands in the CNMI.
Continually highlighted the adverse impacts of Chinese expansion and encroachment on U.S. and Allied interests in the western Pacific region during multiple in-person meetings with Federally elected and appointed officials, regional governors, and senior DoD officials. Awarded the Legion of Merit Medal.
August 2014-July 2016. Air Officer/Fires Coordinator/Performance-Based Contracting Lead, II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), Camp LeJeune, NC Colonel. Led a specialized and diverse team of U.S. Military personnel in the development of plans that coordinated all II MEF supporting assets including lethal and non-lethal weapon systems through time-phased fire support plans. Initiated and led the expedited development of the first Marine Corps Order that addressed Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) generation, sustainment, and personnel and equipment distribution; identified mitigations to meet the JTAC
demands coordinated among Joint Forces. Initiated and led a program designed to reduce reliance on performance- based contracting (PBC) through the establishment of a Requirements Review Board (RRB), predating the U.S. Senate mandate for the establishment of Service RRBs intended to curb PBC expenditures. The program led to a 50% reduction in annual II MEF PBC expenditures during the first year of implementation; became the Marine Corps model program.
Initiated and led revolutionary Fire Support procedures that focused on “cognitive fires” or breeching the adversary’s decision cycle through coordinated and integrated non-lethal means outside the scope of standing Marine Corps practices; led to new metrics development and monitoring, and assisted in the growth of non-lethal capabilities across Marine Corps operational forces; led to organizational changes incorporating Information Operations personnel in Infantry Battalions. Developed and implemented standardized practices designed to increase aircraft availability for units training in preparation for combat operations. Awarded the Legion of Merit Medal.
August 2013-July 2014. Directorate, Government/External Affairs, Marine Corps Installations East, Camp LeJeune, NC Colonel. Led a diverse cross-functional team of U.S. Government military and civilian personnel developing plans, in coordination with Federal, state, and local government officials, to maintain and improve military quality of life and training areas, and curb suburban encroachment near Marine Corps bases in NC, SC, and GA. Initiated and led a highly successful Mitigation Response Team (MRT) coordinating with the FAA, other Federal and state agencies, and all military bases in NC that compelled one of the nation’s largest wind energy developers from constructing wind turbines in the vicinity of military/civilian airports and training areas in eastern North Carolina. This MRT was adopted as the DoD model program and directly influenced NC state legislation for more stringent permitting of wind energy construction.
Initiated a proposal that ultimately changed college tuition measures for dependents of active-duty service members across all 17 North Carolina four-year public Universities through new state legislation; NC governor signed an Executive Order approving the concept; bordering states followed with similar legislation. Initiated and led an effort that eliminated a market-based initiative that allowed private land owners to reverse-bid on cost per acre for term easements through a series of bid-rounds covering hundreds of privately owned parcels consisting of thousands of
acres; detailed analysis determined that the funding flow through the participating state university and state agencies using DoD funds to procure the easements was potentially unethical and not in the best interests of the Marine Corps thereby saving the Marine Corps tens of millions of dollars. Initiated and led a successful effort to allow For-Profit (only non-profit allowed at the time) conservation organizations to be added to the DoD Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) partnership list thereby expanding DoD capabilities to better curb encroachment across all U.S. military installations. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
July 2011-July 2013. Plans Manager, National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), Offutt Air force Base, NE Lieutenant Colonel. Led a highly specialized team of Joint U.S. Military members in the development of training plans that met the commander’s readiness objectives. In a 10-month period, initiated and led a Joint team through the complete revision of the NAOC training program beginning with the generation and development of the first Standing Operating Procedures manual in NAOC’s 34-year history. The document provided standardized practices and procedures designed to make NAOC more efficient and effective in the execution of Nuclear Command and Control (NC2) functions. Initiated the complete revision and rewrite of all NAOC training syllabi in order to streamline and integrate section training cycles ultimately resulting in a 40% reduction in training time for new personnel. Initiated the development of multiple NC2 detailed scenarios, coordinated with multiple Federal agencies, intended to maximize integrated training among the NAOC Operations Teams and other Primary Command Centers (PCC) designed to operate across the full spectrum of national communications assets. Upon annual evaluation, the National Military Command Center (NMCC) emphasized that NAOC’s performance superseded all other PCCs during that evaluation period. NMCC requested the entire training program for adaptation and implementation into their annual training and dissemination across all other PCCs. Awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Joint Achievement Medal.
June 2010-June 2011. U. S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, Newport, RI
Lieutenant Colonel. Student. November 2008-May 2010. Squadron Commander, II Marine Aircraft Wing, New River, NC Lieutenant Colonel. Squadron Commander of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-167 (HML/A-167) responsible for maintaining peak readiness of over 500 military personnel and 27 aircraft capable of effectively supporting world-wide combat operations on short notice. Led and directed over 500 Marines through a series of pre-deployment training exercises and events in preparation for deployment in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM while simultaneous deploying a detachment of Marines and aircraft to support OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, and a detachment of Marines and aircraft to Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) in support of the Combatant Commanders’ operational requirements in Europe and the Middle East. Squadron attained the highest sortie completion rate of all ten co-located, forward deployed Marine Corps squadrons supporting ground forces in Iraq. Initiated and standardized medium altitude rotary-wing unguided rocket delivery profiles that were ultimately approved and distributed across the
Marine Corps. Initiated the development of contingent inclement weather aviation take-off and recovery procedures that were implemented across all forward deployed USMC aviation units in Iraq. The only squadron within 2nd MAW to conduct Naval Safety Surveys on a quarterly basis vice the annual requirement; added survey questions specifically soliciting the level of trust that squadron Marines had in their commanding officer and command staff. Mishap-free command, no personnel casualties. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Medal (SF 9 – 10)
EARLY SERVICE YEARS
May 2004-October 2008. Marine Air Group (MAG)-26, Marine Corps Air Station, New River, NC Assignments
-Lieutenant Colonel. Served as MAG-26 Operations Officer; instrumental in the standup of the first three MV-22 Osprey squadrons in the Marine Corps; deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and developed a far more efficient logistics plan that expedited the support for Marine Corps aviation units based in the Kandahar Province. Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
-Lieutenant Colonel. Served as HML/A-167 Executive Officer; deployed to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Rated the #1 Executive Officer in the Marine Air Group. Awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal (SF 6 – 8).
-Major. Served as HML/A-167 Operations Officer; deployed to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
Developed and orchestrated a plan that generated the most combat flight hours of any squadron to serve in Iraq.
Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Air Medal (SF 1 – 5).
November 2000-April 2004. Operational Test Director (OTD), Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS), China Lake, CA
Major. Led and completed 11 operational test projects from start to finish; the average number of test projects completed by an OTD over the same time period was three. Successfully led testing on and was the first to shoot an AGM-114N Thermobaric HELLFIRE missile in a high visibility multi-target set Quick Reaction Assessment in which target requirements were defined by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. This highly successful test led the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to place greater emphasis on studying impulse effects of small diameter precision guided munitions on specific target sets and enabled NAWS engineers to expand Joint Munitions Effectiveness data for end users. Both the President of the United States and Secretary of Defense publicly commented on the results of this highly successful test in concert with the speed and efficiency in which the test was conducted. Published multiple classified articles intended to provide fleet aviators with the tactical knowledge to better employ their aircraft and weapon systems in hostile environments. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
July 1994-October 2000. Marine Corps Air Station, New River and Camp LeJeune, NC Assignments
-Captain. Served as HML/A-167 Assistant Operations Officer; deployed aboard the 24th MEU in support of OPERATION
ALLIED FORCE in Kosovo as the Aviation Combat Element Quality Assurance Officer. Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals.
-Captain. Forward Air Controller (FAC), Company Commander; deployed with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines to the Far East. Developed and expanded the tactic of “Roving FAC” that provided greater agility and flexibility for battlefield target engagements. Completed Army Basic Parachutist Course. Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
-1st Lieutenant-Captain. Served as HML/A-167 Flight Scheduler; deployed aboard the 26th MEU in support of OPERATION DECISIVE ENDEAVOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
June 1991-June 1994. Initial Marine Corps Career Training
-1st Lieutenant. AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopter student aviator. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton, CA.
-2nd-1st Lieutenant. Student Naval Aviator. Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and NAS Whiting Field, FL; top of class in advanced flight training.
-2nd Lieutenant. Student. The Basic School; leadership training at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA; top rifle marksmanship score.
August 1986-May 1991. Student
-University of Wyoming Engineering College, Laramie, WY.
-USMC Officer Candidate School, Quantico, VA.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Wyoming, 1991.
MILITARY DECORATIONS
➣Legion of Merit Medal (2)
➣Bronze Star Medal
➣Defense Meritorious Service Medal
➣Meritorious Service Medal (3)
➣Air Medal (SF 10)
➣Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3)
➣Joint Achievement Medal
➣Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2)
Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College, 2011.