By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A Houston, Texas, native is working with the U.S. Navy supporting the training of naval aviation personnel and air operations.

Arthur Brown, a 1976 Jesse H. Jones High School graduate, previously served in the Marine Corps for over 23 years as an administrative chief. Brown also graduated in 2019 from Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri, with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services.

“One day, a Marine recruiter showed me a boot camp film,” said Brown. “My friends said I couldn't do it, so I wanted to show them that I could. On June 14, 1976, I enlisted into the Marines. I never thought about sticking it out for over 20 years. I was initially going to stay for only three years but picked up rank very fast, so I decided to reenlist and make a career out of it.”

Skills and values learned in the Marines are similar to those found in Houston.

“I learned to do a great job and to always be on time,” said Brown. “I’m a punctual guy, and have never been late for anything in my life. The Marine Corps taught me responsibility and to be accountable for my job and actions.”

Brown serves in the civil service as a supply technician with Training Squadron 35, an advanced multi-engine training squadron, located at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.

“I'm the government travel card clerk and I check-in student pilots for their orientation process,” said Brown. “I joined the civil service because I knew it was a great job and a great opportunity for me. I like the camaraderie I share amongst my fellow employees. The commanding officer and executive officer are great people and I enjoy working for them. It's a low stress environment with no micromanaging. No one questions me on what I do because everyone trusts me. I love the people here. They take care of me and I take care of them.”

The air training program focuses on the increased complexity of today’s aircraft. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”

After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter attack jet, the F-35 Lightning strike fighter jet or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. These aircraft take off from and land on Navy aircraft carriers at sea.

Navy aircraft carriers are designed for a 50-year service life. When the air wing is embarked, the ship carries more than 70 attack fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft, all of which take off from and land aboard the carrier at sea. With more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard, the aircraft carrier is a self-contained mobile airport.

Aircraft carriers are often the first response to a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans.

Since USS Langley's commissioning 100 years ago, the nation's aircraft carriers and embarked carrier air wings have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.

"The aircraft carrier is our U.S. Navy's centerpiece, our flagship, and a constant reminder to the rest of the world of our enduring maritime presence and influence," said Rear Adm. James P. Downey, USN, Program Executive Officer (PEO) Aircraft Carriers. "These ships touch every part of our Navy's mission to project power, ensure sea control, and deter our adversaries."

With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.

“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy—forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power—deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships, and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”

Serving with the Navy means Brown is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy and Marine Corps are important to national defense because they are the first to be called upon against external and internal threats to peace and security world-wide,” said Brown. “We as people are not able to go about our daily lives with any fear or repercussions from foreign countries.”

Brown had many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“My proudest accomplishment is advancing in rank to E-6,” said Brown. “As a staff sergeant, I held a job originally occupied by a captain. I was put in that position by a female captain who told the commanding officer that there was no replacement needed because I was more than capable of doing a captain’s job. The base colonel called me and said, ‘If you have any problems come to me.’ I took a lot of pride knowing that a high-ranking officer had my back and showed confidence and trust in me to complete the mission.”

As Brown and others continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country.

“Serving in the Marine Corps was the proudest moment of my life,” said Brown. “I learned so much from them, such as being accountable, responsible and providing leadership to junior Marines. It was definitely like being with a band of brothers.”

Brown is grateful to his wife for helping make a military career possible.

“I would like to thank my wife, Gina Brown, for supporting me and sticking by me for all these years,” added Brown. “She is patient and loving and has been everything to me in life. Without her, none of this would be possible.”