First Army welcomes new deputy commanding general for operations

By Mr. Darryl Howlett (FORSCOM)June 13, 2014

Maj. Gen. Brown
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. James K. "Red" Brown, First Army deputy commanding general for operations and grandson of a Pershing-era First Army veteran, addresses the audience during his welcome ceremony on June 12 in First Army headquarters on the Rock Island Arsenal... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lt. Gen. Tucker welcomes Maj. Gen. Brown
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, First Army commanding general, welcomes Maj. Gen. James K. "Red" Brown to First Army during a ceremony on June 12 in First Army headquarters on the Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. Brown serves as the deputy commanding general fo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Maj. Gen. Brown and Mrs. Brown
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- A loud, booming Texas voice greeted First Army Soldiers and civilians as they listened for the first time to the new deputy commanding general for operations for First Army.

Maj. Gen. James K. "Red" Brown served as the guest of honor during a welcome ceremony held at First Army headquarters on June 12.

Lt. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, commanding general, First Army, praised Brown for his experience and dedication to Soldiers.

"We are truly honored to welcome a true citizen-Soldier leader of Maj. Gen. Brown's stature. His credentials are impressive ladies and gentlemen," Tucker said.

Brown, a National Guard general officer, was joined by his wife, Jane. Among those in attendance at the welcome ceremony included Rock Island (Ill.) Mayor Dennis Pauley, East Moline (Ill.) Mayor John Thodos, and Moline (Ill.) Mayor Scott Raes.

In his capacity as deputy commanding general for operations, Brown is responsible for assisting the commanding general with the training, readiness and mobilization of all Army National Guard and Army Reserve units across the United States and two U.S. territories.

"Maj. Gen. "Red" Brown is a proven, combat-tested leader which has been demonstrated over the last three decades plus in numerous ways. For example, as a brigade commander, he successfully deployed and led the 56th Brigade Combat Team in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 with more than 4,000 Texans…the first Texas National Guard unit to deploy since World War II," Tucker said.

Before joining First Army, Brown commanded the 36th Infantry Division and served as the principal advisor to the Adjutant General and Army Commander, Texas Military Forces on employment of the division on state and federal missions.

In his civilian career, Maj. Gen. Brown is the president and managing partner of Texas Water Systems, a private water utility company in Tyler, Texas.

Brown voiced excitement at joining the First Army family and improving the capabilities of Soldiers.

"It's great to be a U.S. Soldier and it's great to be a part of the First Army team," he said. "I'm excited to be here. This is not the first time someone in my family has served in the First Army. My grandfather served with Gen. (John) 'Blackjack' Pershing during World War I. He said one of his proudest memories was when (Gen.) Pershing pinned a medal on him,"

Tucker said Brown is a great general officer ready to handle all challenges and responsibilities.

"Maj. Gen. "Red" Brown is the right man, at the right time, and right place to help us sustain and succeed in our critical mission."

First Army mobilizes, trains, deploys and demobilizes all Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve forces throughout the continental United States, providing trained and ready forces for diverse missions worldwide. First Army is comprised of two divisions: First Army Division East, located at Fort Meade, Md., and First Army Division West, located at Fort Hood, Texas.