In this episode of the West Point Association of Graduates Broadcast Network, host Ian Faison sits down with General Robert B. Brown, retired four-star general and current President & CEO of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). General Brown shares his inspiring journey to West Point, where he was recruited by legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, and delves into his experiences in leadership and service. His stories highlight the impact of mentorship, the complexities of leading both military and civilian teams, and his efforts to build cohesive, mission-driven organizations.
With 38 years in the U.S. Army, General Robert B. Brown, a retired four-star general, led from the platoon level to the largest Army Service Component Command in the Indo-Pacific Region, where he commanded 106,000 Soldiers as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific. A 1981 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, General Brown’s service took him worldwide, with deployments in Haiti, Bosnia, and Iraq. Beyond field commands, he held key roles in U.S. Army Europe, the Pentagon, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. General Brown holds advanced degrees in education and national security and now serves as President & CEO of the Association of the United States Army, continuing his commitment to the military community.
General Brown also discusses AUSA's mission to educate, connect, and support the Army community, emphasizing the importance of telling the Army’s story and fostering a strong connection between the military and the American public. Through his leadership at AUSA, he continues to champion selfless service and the role of the Army in safeguarding national and global stability.
Key Quote:
“Oftentimes, when you're changing, you're fighting. The tradition, you're fighting the people that don't really want to change and you've just got to work it extremely hard. You have to have a strategy. How are you going to get there? What's the vision? You have to be passionate about it. You have to build champions of that and work it. And when it's the right thing to do, it's very, very difficult. And it takes a ton of effort, a ton of energy, but I will tell you, it is worth it when you succeed, and the Army must have it, they must have leaders that are willing to go out and make change where it's needed at the strategic level for certain, and it's the toughest, because it's always the toughest problems.”
-General Robert B. Brown
Episode Timestamps:
(00:26) Journey to West Point
(08:17) Transition to AUSA
(12:04) Challenges and Mentorship in the Army
(23:36) Balancing Personal and Professional Lives
(36:01) Leading Change in the Army
(42:40) Reflecting on Legacy and Future Goals
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