October 1997 - November 2000
Raised in Vernon, BC, Brigadier-General Brown graduated from Vernon High School in 1952, attended Royal Roads in 1952-54, The Royal Military College in 1954-56, and University of British Columbia in 1957. Commissioned as an officer in the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, he served tours of duty in the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering, Chilliwack and with engineering field units in Chilliwack, Gagetown, NB, and Werl, Germany. As Commanding Officer, 3 Field Squadron, Chilliwack, he was responsible for several major road and airfield construction projects in British Columbia and Alberta. Brigadier-General Brown served in various command and general staff appointments throughout his 38 year career in the Canadian Forces.
His senior appointments included: Chief of Staff (Operations) at Mobile Command Headquarters, St. Hubert, and he was responsible for the operational plans and training of the land forces in Canada as Director-General Military Plans and Operations at Canadian Forces Headquarters and was responsible for all national military planning and operations for Canadian Forces participation in NATO operations, UN missions, Canada-USA military agreements, and Canadian domestic operations; Base Commander, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Kingston, ON; Commander, Canadian Forces Training System, and was responsible for initial training and common trades training for all Canadian Forces personnel. This involved the annual training of some 30,000 personnel at 22 schools on five bases across Canada.
Brigadier-General Brown attended the two-year Anny Staff Course in Kingston, ON, in 1961-63, the US Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia in 1968, and the National Defence College, Kingston in 1975-76. In 1985 he was awarded the Order of Military Merit in the rank of Commander for outstanding service.
Upon his retirement from the Canadian Forces in 1989 Brigadier-General Brown joined the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops, BC as Vice President, Administrative Services. During this period the institution progressed from a community college to a university college and expanded in size from 3000 to 7000 students. He also served on the Board of Directors for the 1993 Canada Summer Games in Kamloops. Brigadier-General Brown retired from UCC in June 1994 and settled in Victoria.
Brigadier-General Brown is a member of: the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, the Military Engineers Association of Canada; the Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island; and the Board of Governors, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Victoria and Vancouver Island. He and his wife Norah enjoy gardening, bridge, Inuit and native art, and travelling.