Bruce retired as an Air Commodore from the RAAF in 2000 after a career, which spanned 35 years and culminated with his posting to East Timor as the Air Component Commander of INTERFET. Bruce's Air Force career was largely as a single seat, single engine fighter pilot flying the Sabre and Mirage. As a Forward Air Controller during the Vietnam Conflict, Bruce flew OV10A Bronco aircraft in South Vietnam in support of the US Army 23rd Infantry Division. While an instructor at Williamtown NSW in 1976, he and his student were forced to eject from a dual Mirage after an undercarriage failure.

Bruce flies the Museum's Vampire and A37B Dragonfly.