John Armbrust

John was born and raised in Ellsworth, Kansas. After graduating from Ellsworth High School, he attended Kansas State University, where he graduated with honors in 1968 with a BS in Math and as a Distinguished Air Force ROTC Graduate. Mr. Armbrust’s first assignment in the Air Force was to the Air Force Institute of Technology, wherein 1970 he received his Master's degree in Systems Analysis/Operations Research. While in the Air Force, he attended the Air Command and Staff College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Mr. Armbrust retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 1993. During his military career he served four years in the A-10 Close Support Aircraft System Program Office; three years as the F-16 fighter aircraft Country Manager for Norway (Office in Brussels Belgium); three years as Commander of an Air Force Plant Representative Office associated with the B-1 Bomber program; four years in J-8 on the Joint Staff, serving as the Executive Officer to the Director of J- 8 and as the Chief of the Program and Budget Analysis Division (PBAD). As Chief of PBAD, he worked on the “Base Force” analysis which served as the force structure and basing basis for BRAC. John’s final Air Force assignment was as the Controller of the newly formed Air Force consolidated Space Laboratory. Upon his retirement, Mr. Armbrust returned to Manhattan, Kansas, serving as a Bank Officer for five years, and then four years as Vice President of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. In February 2004 he was selected to serve as the Executive Director of what is now known as the Governor’s Military Council, and as such, the state’s military liaison. Mr. Armbrust served in that position until October 2016. He now consults with Baker Donelson on military matters. John also has served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), and currently serves as the Chair of Ascension Via Christi Manhattan Hospital. John and his wife Karen have two married sons and four grandchildren.

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