Bryan W. Wampler
Brigadier General, United States Army (Retired)
Executive Director, Frontier Museum of the U.S. Army Foundation

2026 Philip Pistilli Silver Veteran’s Medal

The Truman Foundation is pleased to honor Brigadier General Bryan W. Wampler, U.S. Army (Retired) for more than 32 years of distinguished military services in commands across the United States and overseas. He is currently the Executive Director of the Frontier Museum of the U.S. Army Foundation where he leads the campaign to build and support a newly designed museum that will be located on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Growing up in Americus, Kansas in Lyon County, Bryan Wampler began his military career by enlisting as a combat engineer in 1983. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers in 1985 through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at Emporia State University where he received a bachelor of science degree. Throughout his career he continued his professional education, receiving degrees from the State University of New York, Baker University, and the Army War College.

His initial assignments included serving both as a combat engineer platoon leader and a tank platoon leader. He later served with the 1^st Battalion, 635^th Armor Regiment as a battalion scout platoon leader, an executive officer, and a tank company commander. Upon his promotion to Major, he transferred to the Field Artillery branch where he served as Headquarters Commandant and Fire Support Officer of the 35^th Infantry Division. Brigadier General Wampler went on to serve as Assistant Fire Support Coordinator for the 35^th Division Artillery and commanded both the 3^rd Battalion, 123^rd Field Artillery Regiment, and the 2^nd Battalion, 129^th Regiment (Regional Training Institute). He also held senior leadership roles in the 95^th Division, including Chief of Staff. During this period he qualified as a Multifunctional Logistics Officer, enabling him to lead complex sustainment operations across diverse operational commands.

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Brigadier General Wampler was assigned to the U.S. Army Sustainment Command and mobilized in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  He served as Army Materiel Command Southwest Asia Chief of Strategic Plans in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. He later commanded the 78th Training Division (Operations) before assuming command of the 143^rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Brigadier General Wampler retired from military service in 2015.  His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf cluster, the Bronze Star medal, the Meritorious Service medal with four Oak Leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation medal with four Oak Leaf clusters. He and his wife Jennifer live in Lenexa, Kansas.