Lieutenant Commander Brandon Hempler is a native of Wamego, Kansas, and graduated from Wamego High School in 2002, where he lettered in cross country. He attended Kansas State University (KSU), Salina, Kansas, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Airway Science in May 2007. After serving as a flight instructor at KSU for a semester, Brandon reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for Officer Candidate School and earned his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy
