Brig. Gen. Christopher A. Brown is the Lead Special Trial Counsel, Office of Special Trial Counsel, Department of the Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity, he oversees the department’s legal representation in the investigation and trial-level litigation of covered offenses, pursuant to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 801(17), and other offenses over which the office exercises authority. The DAF's Office of Special Trial Counsel operates independently of the military chains of command of both the victims of alleged covered offenses and those accused of covered offenses. Brig. Gen. Brown reports directly to the Secretary of the Air Force with no intervening authority.
Brig. Gen. Brown graduated Army Basic Training in 1985 and served in the Army National Guard as an enlisted Army Military Policeman while attending law school. During his second year of law school, he was activated for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He commissioned into the Air Force through Officer Training School in 1995 and served five years as a Security Police Officer prior to completing an intra-service transfer to the JAG Corps. Brig. Gen. Brown has deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of Detainee Operations, and to Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Brig. Gen. Brown has served in a variety of legal positions at the base, the field operating agency, and the major command level including as a Staff Judge Advocate twice, as an Instructor and Commandant of The Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School. His experience covers virtually all facets of the military justice system including Area Defense Counsel, Appellate Military Judge and Chief of the Military Justice Division at the headquarters level. He is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
EDUCATION
1989 Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts, History, Bridgewater State College, Mass.
1993 Juris Doctor, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Mass.
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence and in residence
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1985–April 1986, Basic Military Training/Advanced Infantry Training, Fort McClellan, Ala.
2. April 1986–September 1991, Massachusetts Army National Guard (December 1991–May 1992 served on active duty in Southwest Asia during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm)
3. October 1995–February 1998, Missile Security Flight Commander, 447th Missile Squadron, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.
4. February 1998–February 2000, Flight Commander, Training and Resources Flight, 9th Security Forces Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif.
5. May 2000–July 2003, Chief, Legal Assistance/Preventive Law (Chief Military Justice, and Claims) 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany (September 2001–December 2001, Deployed Staff Judge Advocate, Doha AB, Qatar)
6.August 2003–August 2004, Chief, Military Justice, 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, South Korea
7. September 2004–September 2005, Chief, General Claims, 37th Training Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas (May 2005–August 2005, Deployed Chief of Intelligence Law, Joint Task Force GTMO, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba)
8. September 2005–August 2007, Area Defense Counsel, Air Force Legal Service Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
9. August 2007–July 2008, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. July 2008–July 2011, Instructor, Deputy Chief, and Chief Military Justice Division, The Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2011–July 2013, Deputy Director, Training and Readiness Directorate, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
12. July 2013–July 2016, Staff Judge Advocate, 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.
13. July 2016–August 2017, Appellate Judge, Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, JB Andrews, Md.
14. August 2017–July 2019, Chief, Military Justice Division, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, JB Andrews, Md.
15. July 2019–July 2021, Commandant, Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
16. July 2021–January 2023, Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters Air Combat Command, JB Langley-Eustis, Va.
17. February 2023–present, Lead Special Trial Counsel, Office of Special Trial Counsel, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with silver and oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Reserve Component Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1995 Distinguished Graduate Officer Training School
1996 Honor Graduate Security Police Officer, Air Base Ground Defense School
1997 Security Forces Company Grade Officer of the Year
1997 447th Missile Squadron Company Grade Officer of the Year
2000 Robert Lowry Award for Leadership and Academics, JASOC
2022 American Bar Association Outstanding Military Service Career Judge Advocate Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 22, 1995
First Lieutenant Sept. 22, 1997
Captain Sept. 22, 1999
Major April 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2011
Colonel Dec. 1, 2016
Brigadier General Feb. 1, 2023
(Current as of March 2023)