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Lieutenant Colonel Mark E. Brown's Retirement

  • Published
  • By Staff Sergeant George Thomas
  • 164th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
164th Airlift Wing Memphis, TN --  Lieutenant Colonel Mark E. Brown recently retired from the Tennessee Air National Guard as the wing plans officer, 164th Airlift Wing. In civilian life he is an airline pilot with US Airways.

Mark E. Brown was born on 28 March 1959 in Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Base, California to Robert and Janet Brown. He graduated from Chantilly (VA) High School in 1977 followed by college at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Colonel Brown began his career in aviation during his high school and college years by attaining several civil flying ratings. Following graduation from college he went to work as a pilot for The University of Tennessee. In late 1984 he applied for a pilot position with the 155th Airlift Squadron. Upon selection, he attended officer training at the ANG Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, TN. Colonel Brown attended USAF undergraduate pilot training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX where he graduated in May 1986. He returned to Memphis as a traditional Guardsman after completing C-130 training at Little Rock AFB in the fall of 1986.

During his 25-year career with the 164th Colonel Brown served in a number of key assignments including the 155th flying safety officer, flight commander, chairman of the Squadron's Pilot Selection Board, chief of the Command Post, and wing plans officer. He was a highly- experienced command pilot with over 10,000 military and civilian flying hours. He flew the T-37, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5.

Colonel Brown has often said he owes his success to his family for their never-ending help, support and understanding: mother, Janet Brown; father, Robert S. Brown, Jr.; brother, Craig; and sister, Liz.