Joseph Blake “Brü” Locklar is a United States Air Force Major, experienced defense acquisitions practitioner, and fighter aviation test professional. Major Locklar currently serves as a requirements and futures Staff Officer at America’s combat air force headquarters – Air Combat Command, Hampton Roads, Virginia. In this role, he directs warfighter integration and evaluation activities for advanced programs and special project applications.

Prior to Virginia, Brü was assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida and Hill Air Force Base, Utah; leading test operations for F-16 and F-15 missions, guiding multiple Major Defense Acquisition Programs, and performing advanced weapon live-fire evaluations. Major Locklar additionally served on the Department of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board for the Secretary of the Air Force’s classified War Winning Weapons futures and Space-based Battle Management and Communications studies. He was a member of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s 2021 Defense Strategy Review and 2024 Space-National Defense Strategy Review and has assisted partner nation’s combat operations with capability, capacity, and tactical buildout. Major Locklar is currently flight authorized in the T-38 Talon and is a prior qualified F-16 Viper and F-15EX Phoenix flight test aviator.

Apart from his active-duty commission, Major Locklar serves at his local church, sits on the State of Virginia Advisory Committee for the US Global Leadership Coalition, and was named a Utah 20 in their 20s by Utah Business in 2020. He is a member of Pacific Forum’s Young Leader programming, was a Jamestown Foundation Young Professional member, and is a former Carnegie New Leader. Brü is a former private equity specialist and foreign policy researcher with the Hudson Institute’s Center for Political and Military Analysis.

Major Locklar graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science and Brenau University with a Master of Business Administration, completing additional certificates from the United States Naval War College, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Georgetown University.

Sojourning from the state of Alabama, Major Locklar is joyfully married to his wife of 12 years, sharing their life with their two sons and daughter.

Use of Major Locklar’s military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement of the National Security Institute, himself, or anyone else by the Department of the Air Force or Department of War.

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