Major Bruce Bender currently serves in the United States Air Force Reserve as Flight Commander for the 4th Combat Camera Squadron at March Air Reserve Base, California. As the only Air Force Reserve squadron capable of deploying Visual Information (VI) assets, the 4th Combat Camera Squadron supports domestic and international activities.

Major Bender earned his commission in 1991 as a graduate of Air Force ROTC at Baylor University, Waco, Texas, with a Bachelors Degree in Television and Film Production as well as German. He entered active duty in 1992 as a Producer/Director and Combat Camera Officer assigned to Detachment 8, 2nd Combat Camera Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Bender then transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base, California where he directed operations for the Visual Information Flight, 30th Communications Squadron, serving the Western Missile Launch Test Range, Air Force Space Command, and Combat Camera Unit Type Codes with VI assets.

Next, Major Bender joined the Tennessee Air National Guard, where he served for 2 years on active duty at the Training and Education Center Television Production Facility, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. As Broadcast Producer/Director for the National Guard Bureau Counterdrug Program he devloped live broadcasts and video productions to support the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Following his counterdrug assignment, Major Bender returned to California where he joined the Air Force Reserve as a traditional reservist with the 4th Combat Camera Squadron. At the same time, he accepted a civil service job at Los Angeles Air Force Base where he is currently serving as the Flight Chief for the Multimedia Flight, which provides photo and video production support for the base and Air Force Space Command.

Major Bender recently completed a Masters Degree in Military Science (in residence) at the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. After graduation in June 2008, he returned to California to resume his civil service job at Los Angeles Air Force Base and his Reserve activities at March Air Reserve Base.