Bryan Douglas Brown
General, U.S. Army

Bryan Douglas Brown was born on 20 October 1948. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 as a Private in the Infantry. Upon completion of Airborne School and the Special Forces Qualification Course, he served on a Special Forces "A Team" at Fort Bragg, NC. A short time later he went on to earn his pilot's wings. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant after completing Officer Candidate School.

During a career that spanned four decades, Brown's combat tours include Vietnam; Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada); Desert Shield/Storm; Operation Enduring Freedom; Iraqi Freedom; and others.

His notable commands include 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Joint Special Operations Command and U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

As a general officer, he served as Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Riley, KS. He also served as Director of Plans, Policy and Strategic Assessments (J-5/J-7) at the U.S. Special Operations Command MacDill AFB; as Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command and U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg; and as Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB.

Brown's final assignment was as Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). As USSOCOM's commander, he was responsible for all unified special operations forces, both active duty and reserve.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Cameron University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and the Army War College. Brown is a graduate of the Harvard Executive Education Program's National and International Security Managers Course.

General Bryan D. Brown was the first member of the Aviation branch to attain the rank of four-star General.

General Brown retired from active duty in September 2007.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with Valor Device
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with 2 Service Stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 3 Service Stars
Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Service Stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" Device
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Master Aviator Badge
Parachutist Badge
Military Free Fall Parachute Badge
Special Forces Tab