Buffalo, NY - Military service is in Brandon Bieron’s DNA.
The U.S. Army Captain leads Baker Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment based in Anchorage, AK, and is a third generation member of the armed forces. His grandfather, emeritus professor Joseph F. Bieron ’59, PhD, served stateside as an Army chemist during the Vietnam War. Bieron’s father, Paul J., is a retired Army National Guard Reservist who aided in 9/11 efforts and was deployed to Iraq.
That 2004 deployment solidified Brandon’s decision to serve his country. “It should have been me going instead,” recalls Bieron.
Eager to fulfill that sense of duty, Bieron was commissioned as an Infantry Officer through Canisius’ ROTC program. He completed the Basic Course and then graduated from U.S. Army Ranger School. Ranger school is a rigorous and demanding school that has more than a 50 percent attrition rate. Less than one percent of the Army is Ranger qualified.
Prior to taking command of Baker Company, Bieron served in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment, a special operations unit that concentrates in surgical raids. Now, as Baker Company Commander, Bieron leads more than 120 paratroopers and manages more than $16 million dollars of property and equipment.
He is a highly decorated soldier who completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan and holds such commendations as a Bronze Star Medal, conferred for heroic achievement. Bieron is also the recipient of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, awarded to those who fought in active ground combat and the Joint Service Commendation Medal, which recognizes meritorious service while assigned to a joint activity.
