Biography

Richard W. Brown is a native of Wakefield, Rhode Island and a 1979 graduate of South Kingstown High School. He was a member of the football, track and wrestling teams and Team Captain of all three in his senior year. He was a member of the Drama Club for four years. Richard entered the University of Rhode Island in 1980 and was a member of the track team for four years. He received the top 5% award out of all ROTC Cadets in 1982. As a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, he held leadership position for three years. Richard earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1984 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Air Defense Artillery.

Colonel Brown served in the Army and Army Reserve for over twenty-nine years in various command and staff positions. He entered active duty in February 1984. His initial assignment as a 1LT was with the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fulda, Germany. He served as the Squadron Air Defense Artillery (ADA) officer until branch transferring to Armor and assumed responsibility as the Scout Platoon Leader with C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

In September 1987, he was re-branched to the Quartermaster Corps and attended the Quartermaster Officer Advance Course, Fort Lee, VA. Upon completion of this course, he was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC and served in various staff assignments. As an operations officer with the Division G3, he deployed to Saudi Arabia in August 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

LTC Brown left active duty in August 1993 and received an Army Reserve position with the 78th Division (Exercise) in Richmond, VA. From June 1994 until June 2002, he served as a Team Leader of a Combat Service Support Evaluation Team tasked with training Army Reserve and National Guard units for worldwide deployments. In June 2002, he was assigned to US Joint Forces Command as a Senior Trainer. LTC Brown was responsible for leading the development and execution of various major training events. These included exercises that validated units for deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq.

During this period, LTC Brown was recalled to active duty. He deployed to Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division as Commander of a Military Transition Team advising an Iraqi Army Battalion Commander in the development of the battalion to full combat readiness. LTC Brown was recalled to active duty from June 2008 through August 2011 as an operations officer with US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), Joint Center for Operational Analysis, in Suffolk, Virginia. His primary duties included developing and leading study teams for the Commander, USJFCOM to assess the effectiveness of the joint force. In this position, he deployed twice to Afghanistan.

He was promoted to Colonel on 25 September 2009; and he volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan from November 2010 through April 2011 to Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force, CJ3 to support the ISAF Commander in the planning and development of the Afghanistan Security Transition plan to effectively transfer security responsibility from NATO Forces to the Afghan Government. His leadership allowed the team to quickly research and analyze issues from a joint war-fighting perspective and provide timely and detailed recommendations to the Commander in the development of the Afghanistan/International Security Operations Plan.

Colonel Brown’s awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Rigger Badge, and Australian Parachute Badge.

Colonel Brown continues to support the University of Rhode Island since his graduation. He has been a member of the URI Alumni Association since 1984 and has participated in URI Alumni events in the Richmond, VA area. He continues to donate to the URI Foundation and Athletics.

Colonel Brown is a Sergeant with the Henrico County Police Department, Henrico, Virginia. As a Patrol Sergeant, he is responsible for leading and managing ten Patrolmen in all aspects of criminal investigation, accident investigation, forensics, and various other duties. Additionally, he serves as a Team Leader on the Incident Management Team-SWAT Element with responsibility for the planning and execution of high-risk tactical operations and search/arrest warrants.

Colonel Brown is extremely active in his community volunteering countless hours to numerous programs. He was recognized as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls in 2002. Colonel Richard Brown is a true leader. He has served his community, the University of Rhode Island, and our country as a distinguished leader in “The One Army Concept” with dedication and professionalism.Colonel Brown and his wife Elke currently reside in Glen Allen, Virginia.