Erik Brine is a co-founder of Operation Encore, an Air Force Reserve Colonel a former C-21, C-17, and C-5 pilot, and now a strategic advisor at the Pentagon. He has served his country in numerous capacities, including over the skies of Iraq and Afghanistan, in the halls of Congress, at the State Department and the White House. In his civilian capacity he is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology. For Operation Encore, Erik leads the organizational design, marketing, partnerships and fundraising efforts. Erik lives in Jamestown, RI with his wife and four children.

Rob is a co-founder of Operation Encore, an active-duty Air Force officer (Colonel), and an F-16 pilot currently serving as a Group Commander at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. He has served his country in the skies of Iraq, Korea, Europe, and various locations throughout the United States. Rob is also a talented musician, a producer on Operation Encore’s first two albums, and lead music director on many of our shows and events. When not flying for the Air Force or working on Operation Encore, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Chris “Snooze” Kurek is one of the three co-founders of Operation Encore. Chris served 10 years in the Air Force as an F-16 pilot . During that time he supported numerous campaigns, including Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. Chris leads Operation Encore’s external outreach and partnerships program. He’s currently an active pilot with American Airlines and lives in Forth Worth, TX.

Tom is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, having spent 22 years in the Air Force with assignments around the world, including combat time in both the A-10 and F-16. He appears on the first two Operation Encore albums as both studio musician and songwriter, and helped produce both. His song “In Tent City,” was inspired by his flying in the Gulf War. Tom acts as our onstage music director, performing as “wingman” for many of our artists’ live shows, playing guitar and singing harmonies. He currently lives in Phoenix and Las Vegas, where he is a pilot for Southwest Airlines

Guy is an Operation Encore board member and retired corporate executive with over 35 years in the commercial real estate development and investment business, most recently as CEO of Prologis Private Capital. He serves on a number of for profit and non-profit boards, launched a series of singer/songwriter compilations for Notes4Hope (a breast cancer charity) and founded Buckeye Road Music. Guy spends much of his Operation Encore time producing our shows and events, helping our artists record their music and working on donor development. He lives in Belvedere, CA with his wife and has two adult children.