Bengals 2024 Salute to Service Nominee Bryan Wilburn

Bryan Wilburn, Stadium Service Technician at the Cincinnati Bengals’ Paycor Stadium, embodies several core tenants of the NFL’s Salute to Service campaign that connect military appreciation with the game of football. Wilburn served in the United States Marine Corps from 1993-97, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., with the Eighth Engineers Heavy Equipment Platoon. He was deployed twice with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, serving aboard the USS Nassau and later as acting heavy equipment section head aboard the USS Portland.

While deployed, Wilburn was active in several military operations including Operation Assured Response, a stabilization and evacuation effort for the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia. He also served at Operation Deny Flight, which provided support to NATO’s no-fly zone enforcement over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Operation Joint Endeavor, a NATO-led multinational peace enforcement effort.

Wilburn was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal in recognition of his efforts throughout Exercise Destined Glory, a Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment in which Marines trained with forces from nine countries. During the exercise, he conducted critical repairs on a fleet of seven earthmovers and forklifts, and was commended for his initiative in identifying potential mechanical issues before taking corrective action to ensure equipment was at full readiness.