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Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, A great leader: A personal reflection

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Lt. Gen. Robert Brown is a caring Soldier whom I deeply respect.

My respect is based on experience.

I met then Col. Brown on a cold and wet March morning in 2004 as he and 13 other Soldiers prepared for an event called the Lancer Challenge.

I was surprised the commander of 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division would participate in the event.

During the challenge, Brown worked as hard as the Soldiers he was preparing to lead in Iraq.

After the event, we briefly talked, and he invited me to embed with his brigade.

I did so in August, 2005.

My first mission "outside the wire" in Mosul was with him.

Since then, Brown has continued to serve the nation with humility and distinction.

This past Monday afternoon, Brown and I talked.  Except for a bit more gray hair, nothing about the man has changed.

"I am a caring Soldier," he told me as he sat in his makeshift office on the day before his promotion to Lt. Gen. and his assumption of command of I Corps.

"I was raised by parents who taught me to care."

Brown added he very aware of how much more he owes those he commands.

"I love the Army, and I am fortunate to be serving."

Brown looks at you directly - he makes eye contact.  As to his hands, they are in constant motion - as though trying to catch his thoughts.

As I Corps' new commanding general, Brown plans on creating a "team of teams" in order to remain mission ready.

"I am proud to be on the Joint Base Lewis-McChord team," he explained.  "Together we can achieve more."

Warming to my questions, Brown added that the nation and Army are passing through historic times.

"I Corps has served in Iraq and Afghanistan; now we work to become the nation's task force of choice in the Pacific," he continued.

But the commitment to caring - a word he used to describe himself - comes up as he talks.

"I care for Soldiers," Brown stated.

"It is my goal that Soldiers, Airmen, families and Department of Army civilian receive the best."

Brown emphasized he will work to extend JBLM's positive connections with local communities.

"We will build on the existing relationships; and we will move to extend our connections to communities from Seattle to Portland."

There is no management process here; this general officer is all about leadership.

"Mission command involves trust and empowerment," Brown continued. 

"I will know and trust my subordinates; I will empower as much as I can."

As the interview came to an end, Brown emphasized his positive nature.

"We will actively show the positive; we will show the good."

This sounds like the Soldier I met on that cold and wet March morning over eight years ago.

Positive, determined and caring - these are the qualities that I see in Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, commanding general, I Corps.

There is a great leader in our presence.

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