Bruce McKenty is a 1970 graduate of Texas A&M University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery. Upon entry, onto active duty, he completed his Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK, and went on to flight school in route to his first assignment – Vietnam, where he was assigned to F Troop, 1/9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division at Bien Hoa as an AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter pilot. During his tour, he was wounded twice and has the unique distinction of being one of a small handful of Army helicopter pilots who survived being shot down with an SA-7 heat-seeking missile. During his tour, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, Two Purple Hearts, and numerous Air Medals, with three being awarded for valor. 

Bruce went on to spend 21 years in the Army serving in various command and staff assignments in Field Artillery and Aviation and retired in 1991 as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his Army career, he earned a Master of Science from the University of Southern California in 1984 and in 1986 graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. After he retired from the Army, Bruce was a general contractor in the greater Seattle/Tacoma area until his final retirement in 2001.

In 2002 he joined the Military Order of the Purple Heart and discovered one of his greatest passions, that of being a volunteer service officer for his local chapter, assisting all veterans to receive their rightful benefits from the Veterans Administration and other government agencies. In 2004 he discovered a new passion as a volunteer at the local VA golf course. The American Lake Veterans Golf Course located at the American Lake VA Hospital in Lakewood, Washington lost all federal funding in 1995. That year, a group of veterans petitioned the VA to keep the golf course operating with only volunteers and public donations. It has not only survived but continues to improve through the commitment and dedication of volunteers like Bruce, who is now the Manager of the American Lakes Golf Course.

Since joining The Order in 2002 Bruce has been the adjutant, finance officer, and service officer at the chapter and department levels and was elected four times as Department Commander and twice as the Commander of National Region III. In 2010, he advanced to the leadership of the National organization and was elected this year to the position of National Commander.