Gerald Curtis Brown

West Point, 1964

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Neal T. Wright, LTC US Army (Ret) on October 3, 2006:

To Jed Brown's many classmates, fellow soldiers and friends, I offer this letter I wrote at Jed's request only months before his death. Jed had hoped to retire and consult part-time in Maine. Alas, he never realized this goal. The US Army and the Old Guard gave Jed Brown an appropriate farewell on September 25, 2006 at Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery. Here is how I will remember him: -------------------------------- March 14, 2006 To: Mr. Warren T. Foster, P.E. Executive Director State of Maine Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers 92 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0092 Dear Mr. Foster; I am writing on behalf of Mr. Gerald C. Brown, P.E., Brigadier General, US Army Retired. I have been asked by Mr. Brown to be a reference for him as he seeks licensure as a Professional Engineer in Maine. I have known Jed Brown since our first meeting in 1982, when I was a young Army Captain working for then Colonel Brown. He has been an inspiration to me as a professional officer and engineer, and has been my role model and my personal and professional mentor for the past 24 years. It was he who most strongly encouraged me to seek registration as a professional engineer. Jed Brown is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, and rose through the ranks of America's Army to achieve the rank of Brigadier General, assuming progressively more demanding positions along the way. Our nation has entrusted him with the command of its sons and daughters, in combat in Vietnam and in a variety of assignments that followed in his long and illustrious career. I can think of no higher honor, recognition of his abilities, or endorsement of his character than this. I have been privileged to observe Jed Brown in action in a wide variety of professional settings, and have seen his performance as a Professional Engineer in both the public and private sectors. He has tackled the most complex engineering and public policy challenges in highly visible leadership roles, meeting each situation with enthusiasm, integrity and courage of conviction. Jed Brown was the senior Army Engineer for the Baltimore District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for managing water resources in the Susquehanna and Potomac River basins, an area stretching from Central New York to Tidewater Virginia. He led facility construction programs and environmental restoration programs on Army and Air Force installations in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Both missions drew the intense scrutiny of scores of Congressmen and Senators, and numerous state and local governments. Later, as a General Officer, Jed was responsible for these same water resources and military support missions for an area from Maine to Virginia. Clearly, he has led the best engineering talent in our nation to solve major issues affecting millions of our citizens. Most importantly, he led using his in-depth understanding of the technical issues involved. Jed Brown has made significant contributions to the Engineering Profession. A long time supporter of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), he founded its prestigious Academy of Fellows. This organization honors the most deserving and committed members of our society and then challenges them to give back through mentoring young people and taking action to support the goals and ideals of the society. I have seen Jed Brown go the extra mile so many times, but recall one particularly moving effort on his part. Jed Brown recognized that one of the Society's oldest members, Mr. Charles Krause had not been properly honored for having been named a Fellow. Jed organized an award ceremony in his nursing home and ensured the Krause family and the nursing home staff and residents knew of the honor Mr. Krause was receiving. He then asked me, as an Active Duty Army Engineer officer, to preside at the ceremony where we afforded Mr. Krause the honors so long overdue him. Mr. Krause died several weeks later. His family wrote to thank Jed Brown for his selfless efforts. I know of no finer individual anywhere who could more fully represent every aspect of being a true Professional Engineer. I endorse his application to you in the strongest possible terms and request you license Jed Brown as a Professional Engineer in the State of Maine, his home state and the launching point for his exceptional career. Sincerely, Neal T. Wright, P.E., PMP, F. SAME Vice President Michael Baker, Jr., Inc.

admin