Manson K. Brown

{{Short description|US Coast Guard commander}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Manson K. Brown |image = File:Manson K. Brown.jpg{{!}}border |office = [[Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere]] Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] {{small|Acting}} |president = [[Donald Trump]] |term = January 20, 2017 (approximately two hours){{efn|Brown served as Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) in his capacity as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and Deputy Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) for approximately two hours on January 20, 2017 from the time of the formal resignation of [[Kathryn D. Sullivan]] as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) at noon on January 20, 2017 until the time of the formal appointment of Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Operations (DUSO) of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) Benjamin Friedman as Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) in the early afternoon on January 20, 2017 pursuant to Department Organization Order (DOO) 10-15 and the [[Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998]].}} |predecessor = [[Kathryn D. Sullivan]] |successor = Benjamin Friedman (acting) |office1 = Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction Deputy Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |president1 = [[Barack Obama]] |term_start1 = March 18, 2015 |term_end1 = January 20, 2017 |successor1 = [[Neil Jacobs]] |office2 = Deputy Commandant for Mission Support |president2 = [[Barack Obama]] |term_start2 = May 25, 2010 |term_end2 = May 30, 2014 |birth_name = Manson Kevin Brown<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1978-pt6/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1978-pt6-7-2.pdf |title=Congressional Record — Senate |date=March 22, 1978 |page=8130 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |accessdate=November 27, 2020}}</ref> |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|7|23}} |birth_place = [[Washington, DC|Washington]], [[District of Columbia]], [[United States|U.S.]] |module = {{Infobox military person |embed = yes |allegiance = {{flag|United States of America}} |branch = {{Flagicon image|USCG Parade Flag.svg}} [[United States Coast Guard]] |service_years = 1978-2014 |rank = [[File:US Navy O9 insignia.svg|15px]] [[Vice Admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] |commands = [[Deputy COMDT for Mission Support|Deputy Commandant for Mission Support]] [[Coast Guard Pacific Area]] Fourteenth Coast Guard District MLC, Pacific |battles = [[September 11 attacks]] Global [[war on terror]]ism [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] |awards = {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=23px}} [[Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal]] {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Sec_Transportation_Outstanding_Achievement_Medal_ribbon.PNG{{!}}border|width=23px}} [[Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Achievement Medal]] {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=23px}} [[Legion of Merit]] {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=23px}} [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] {{ribbon devices|ribbon=U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=23px}} [[Commendation Medal|Coast Guard Commendation Medal]] {{ribbon devices|ribbon=U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=23px}} [[Achievement Medal|Coast Guard Achievement Medal]] {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=23px}} [[Iraq Campaign Medal]] |spouse = Herminia Brown |relations = 3 children }} }}

'''Manson Kevin Brown''' (born July 23, 1956) is an American retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral (VADM) and public official. His top military decoration is the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal. In 1994, he became the first recipient of the Coast Guard Captain John G. Witherspoon Award for Inspirational Leadership. In 2012, he was honored with the Golden Torch Award by the National Society for Black Engineers. In 2014, he was honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People with the Meritorious Service Award, an honor annually bestowed to a service member in a policy-making position for the highest achievement in military equal opportunity. Off duty, he is an active road cyclist.

==Early life and education==

Brown was born in [[Washington, DC]] on July 23, 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/brown-manson-1956/|title = Manson Brown (1956- ) •|date = January 28, 2018}}</ref> He graduated in 1978 from the [[U.S. Coast Guard Academy]] with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He also holds Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]] and National Resources Strategy from the [[Industrial College of the Armed Forces]]. He is a registered professional [[civil engineer]].

==Career==

===U.S. Coast Guard===

[[File:VADM Manson K. Brown, USCG.jpg|left|thumb|U.S. Coast Guard VADM Manson K. Brown, as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support.]]

VADM Brown’s commands include Coast Guard [[Pacific Area]], the Fourteenth Coast Guard District, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific, Sector Honolulu, and Group Charleston. From 1999 to 2002, he served as the Military Assistant to the [[U.S. Secretary of Transportation]], including duty as the Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for six months after the [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001]]. In May 2003, he served as the Chief of Officer Personnel Management at the Coast Guard Personnel Command. From April to July 2004, he was temporarily assigned as the Senior Advisor for Transportation to the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]]. Working in a combat zone, he oversaw restoration of Iraq’s major transportation systems, including two major ports.

Previous tours of duty include Assistant Engineering Officer aboard the [[icebreaker]] ''Glacier'', Project Engineer at Civil Engineering Unit Miami, Deputy Group Commander at Coast Guard Group Mayport, Engineering Assignment Officer in the Officer Personnel Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, Facilities Engineer at Support Center Alameda, and Assistant Chief, Civil Engineering Division at Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific. He commanded operations at every level, culminating as Commander of Coast Guard [[Pacific Area]] in Alameda, California where he oversaw all Coast Guard operational activities throughout the Pacific Rim. Building on his technical competence as a registered professional civil engineer, his last assignment on active duty was as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support in Washington, DC, where he oversaw all aspects of human resources, engineering, information technology, acquisition, and logistics support for Coast Guard operations and people throughout the globe. VADM Brown retired from the Coast Guard in May, 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/vice-admiral-retires-from-us-coast-guard-as-the-top-ranking-black-officer/2014/05/14/95fd2ba4-db95-11e3-bda1-9b46b2066796_story.html |title=Vice admiral retires as top-ranking black officer |date=2014-05-15 |orig-date=2014-05-14 |author1=T. Rees Shapiro |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}}</ref>

===Commerce Department===

VADM Brown was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction on March 18, 2015. In this role he strategically drove administration policy, programming, and investments for all NOAA observing systems, including in situ instruments and satellites, and the process of converting observations to predictions for environmental threats related to weather, climate, water, oceans, and space weather. He served as NOAA Deputy Administrator and Chair of NOAA’s Observing Systems Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.noaa.gov/brown.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061055/http://www.noaa.gov/brown.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Manson K. Brown}}</ref> Brown also served as Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) in his capacity as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and Deputy Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) for approximately two hours on January 20, 2017 from the time of the formal resignation of [[Kathryn D. Sullivan]] as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) at noon on January 20, 2017 until the time of the formal appointment of Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Operations (DUSO) of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) Benjamin Friedman as Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Administrator of the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) in the early afternoon on January 20, 2017 pursuant to Department Organization Order (DOO) 10-15 and the [[Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998]]. His service ended on January 20, 2017 with the end of the Obama Administration and Brown retired from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).<ref>{{cite web |title=MANSON BROWN (1956- ) |date=January 28, 2018 |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/brown-manson-1956/ |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |colspan="3"|[[File:USCG - Boat Force Operations Advanced BW.png|175px]] |- |colspan="3"|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sec_Transportation_Outstanding_Achievement_Medal_ribbon.PNG{{!}}border|width=106}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}[[File:Operational Distinguishing Device.png|20px]] [[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]] |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106px}}[[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=USA - CG PUC Hurricane Katrina.png{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award ribbon.png{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}[[File:Operational Distinguishing Device.png|20px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]] |- |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106px}} |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Meritorious Team Commendation ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}[[File:Operational Distinguishing Device.png|20px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]][[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]] |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Bicentennial Unit Commendation ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106px}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Antarctica Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106px}} |- |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106px}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Special Operations Service Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=U.S. Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Coast_Guard_Rifle_Marksmanship_Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106px}} |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Coast_Guard_Pistol_Marksmanship_Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106px}} |- |colspan="3"|[[File:USCG - Commandant's Staff Badge.png|105px]] |}

==See also==

==Notes==

==References==

{{Reflist}} {{Include-USGov|agency=United States Coast Guard|article=Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown|url=http://www.uscg.mil/flag/biography/mansonbrown.pdf}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302195914/www.uscg.mil/flag/biography/mansonbrown.pdf|date=March 2, 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Manson K}} [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Military personnel from Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:United States Coast Guard Academy alumni]] [[Category:African-American United States Coast Guard personnel]] [[Category:Grainger College of Engineering alumni]] [[Category:American civil engineers]] [[Category:Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy alumni]] [[Category:United States Coast Guard admirals]] [[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]] [[Category:21st-century African-American military personnel]] [[Category:20th-century African-American people]]