As a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast, Brueske became fascinated with studying local Civil War history, in particular the 1865 campaign for Mobile. His first book, The Last Siege, is a result of many years of research on the Mobile Campaign. He founded the Mobile Civil War Round Table and regularly gives talks on Civil War topics. He is currently the Head Track & Field Coach at the University of South Alabama. Brueske is a member of the Friends of Historic Blakeley State Park, and the History Museum of Mobile.