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Bruce was born and raised in Millinocket, the son of an engineer at the paper company and a well known Maine Artist, Jean M cLean. He graduated from UMaine’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in 1991. Considered a key leader in winning the “cold war”, Bruce spent a majority of his 9 year career as an instructor and launch control officer of the world’s most powerful ICBM force with over 200 “alerts” spent below ground. He ended his career after his final 3 years as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Commandant of Cadets at the Rochester Institute of Technology Air Force ROTC program in Rochester NY. Bruce received his Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems while in the Air Force. With a strong “service before self” mentality, Bruce returned to his struggling hometown in 2001 to become the Executive Director of Economic Development for the communities in the Katahdin Region. He is the leader of a 20 member board that oversees all aspects of community and economic development. In a short amount of time, the Millinocket Area Growth and Investment Council (MAGIC) under Bruce’s direction has attracted Miller’s Department Store, CC Net broad band internet, Verizon DSL services, Allagash Valve and Controls, Brims Ness Corporation, the Community Press, Prewitt Fiberglass Animals and has assisted numerous local businesses and startups. MAGIC has also created some very unique initiatives, such as State’s first self sustained ecological park named the Katahdin Energy Commons, the Business Resource and Innovation Center with incubator space and training assistance for startup businesses and a “Native Sons and Daughters Survey” that looks to attract previous residents, like Bruce, back to the Katahdin Region. The newly created “Katahdin Fund” was recently developed to assist with fund raising for these and other community initiatives that will help make this region, and hence the entire State of Maine a stronger and better place to live. Bruce is also retraining ex-mill workers in his role as an Adjunct Faculty member of Eastern Maine Community College. Bruce lives in Millinocket with his wife Peggy and two children Alyssa, 11 and Evan 5. |
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