Vice Adm. William A. Brown is a native of Gloucester County, Virginia. A Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship student at Virginia Military Institute, he was commissioned in the Navy in May 1980. He received a master's degree in business administration from the Navy Postgraduate School in 1990 and attended Stanford Business School Executive Training Program in 2004.

Ashore, he was assigned to the Naval Air Systems Command; the former Naval Aviation Supply Office; Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Naval Supply Systems Command and Commander, Naval Air Forces. During the initial phases of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, he was the operations director at the Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, providing aviation logistics support to deployed aviation units.

Brown has served in a variety of sea and shore duty assignments providing him with extensive logistics and management expertise. His initial sea tour was aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), assigned to the Supply Department. He served as supply officer aboard USS Leftwich (DD 984) during Operation Nimble Archer and completed his sea assignments as supply officer aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) during Operation Southern Watch in 2000.

Brown previously served as the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) deputy commander, USTRANSCOM, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and USTRANSCOM director of Strategy, Policy, Programs and Logistics (J5/4).
He also served as director of logistics (J4) at United States European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, where he directed logistical support for U.S. forces assigned to the United States European Command (EUCOM) theater of operations. Prior to assuming his position at EUCOM, he served as the commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers, San Diego, and fleet supply officer at U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

Brown was assigned as the director for logistics (J4) on the Joint Staff. As the J4, he was responsible for integrating logistics planning and execution in support of joint operations to drive joint force readiness, maximize the Joint Force Commander's freedom of action and advise the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on logistics matters.

His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (four awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various other decorations. He is a qualified Naval Aviation Supply Corps officer and Surface Warfare Supply Corps officer. Brown is a 1989 recipient of the Navy League's Vice Admiral Robert F. Batchelder Award.

Last Updated: 25 March 2022