Charles Q. Brown Jr. with Brawner (right) in 2024. As a junior officer, Brawner participated in military operations against the
communist insurgents and
Muslim separatists and terrorists in the Philippines. Throughout his career, Brawner served primarily in both infantry and special operations, before being placed in staff positions. Brawner was named Company Commander of the 6th Special Forces Company was named as Battalion Commander of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion, before being an Operations Officer under the
Special Forces Regiment (Airborne). Brawner also served as the Chief of Staff of the
6th Infantry Division, and was also named Chief of Public Affairs of the AFP, before serving as the AFP Spokesperson. Brawner eventually became commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment of the Philippine Army. During the
Siege of Marawi in 2017, Brawner subsequently served as spokesperson and deputy commander of Task Force Ranao, and served as one of the key commanders during the 5-month long battle. On July 1, 2021, Brawner was named commander of the
4th Infantry Division, in charge with
counterinsurgency operations in
Northern Mindanao and
Caraga regions. During his tenure as division commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Brawner finalized and oversaw a military operation under his supervision that led to the death of communist insurgent leader Jorge Madlos on October 31, 2021, in the outskirts of
Impasugong, Bukidnon. Madlos, commonly known as Ka Oris, was the spokesperson of the
New People's Army National Operational Command and the
National Democratic Front. Then-Lieutenant General Brawner also supervised operations against the
CPP-
NPA-
NDF, the
Abu Sayyaf and other connected Islamist groups, and various private armed groups. Brawner also spearheaded the modernization of the Army through the procurement of various weapons and equipment such as the
ATMOS 2000 self propelled howitzers, the
Sabrah light tank, and various UAVs amongst other weapons, equipment and vehicles. Brawner also launched initiatives aimed at enhancing the personnel's mental health, and expanded benefits of
Citizen Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU).
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines On July 21, 2023, Brawner was appointed as the 60th
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and replaced General
Andres Centino, who was named as the Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. In October 2023, Brawner laid out plans to upgrade the AFP Cyber Group to a command-style organization named the AFP Cyber Command, which is aimed to expand the AFP Cyber Group's cybersecurity operations and further defend the AFP's cyber networks by enlisting more personnel and procuring additional equipment for cyber defense. The AFP Cyber Group was later upgraded to become the AFP Cyber Command on late 2024. Brawner also emphasized the Cyber Group's importance in the modern battlefield due to the rise of both technological threats and cyber soldiers, and is also looking on the
Digital and Intelligence Service of the
Singapore Armed Forces as a potential model for the expansion of the Cyber Group. In August 2024, Brawner Jr., became a
Philippine Navy special forces 'Seal' honorary member after training at the
Naval Special Operations Command for SEAL Qualification. In September 2024, Brawner expressed his desire to continually sustain the deployment of the US-made
Typhon missile launcher in the country, citing the system's capabilities for external defense operations. Brawner also mentioned in August 2024 the AFP's plans to procure the Typhon missile system. With the aim of further strengthening the AFP's shift from internal defense operation to an effective external defense posture, Brawner, alongside the
Defense Department, led the creation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, a defense concept that aims to boost country's inter-island defense strategy while aiming to secure the country's sea lanes, external territorial waters including the country's exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and other potential foreign threats. The concept also allow the AFP to be more adaptable towards intensifying inter-domain threats while applying the potential lessons learned from the
Russian invasion of Ukraine while revitalizing the military's modernization program to fast track the procurement of modern weapons, equipment, and assets to counter evolving security threats within the modern battlefield. On the AFP's 89th Founding Anniversary held on 21 December 2024, Brawner also announced the introduction of the Tatag Kapuluan campaign plan, which serves as the AFP's campaign plan in aiming expand the AFP's holistic and harmonized approach towards defending the country's external borders and sovereignty. Brawner also initiated the creation and upgrading of various military commands which is aimed to boost the AFP's preparedness against newer and more complex threats, while enhancing the AFP's capabilities in joint operations, such as the creation of the AFP Intelligence Command on 21 August 2024, which is aimed to strengthen and harmonize the AFP's intelligence operations; the
AFP Joint Special Operations Command on 28 May 2025, which unifies and enhances the AFP's special operations units; the AFP Joint Sustainment Command on 22 September 2025, which is tasked to manage the AFP's logistical units, equipment, and support systems; and the AFP Civil-Military Operations Command on 13 November 2025, which is made to expand the AFP's civil-military engagements with other various sectors and to combat both fake news and misinformation. On 18 January 2024, Brawner also reactivated the
AFP Counterintelligence Group, which is aimed to counter potential counterintelligence and espionage operations, as well as to counter potential classified military information leakages within the country. Brawner also led the reactivation of the
National Capital Regional Command on 28 February 2025, and the creation of the AFP Strategic Command on 27 October 2025 and currently serves as the AFP's strategic operations command responsible for monitoring intelligence, military operations, and civil-military functions, and is also aimed to boost the AFP's interoperability and synchronization, which includes synergizing joint exercises with both military units and with other allied partners. On the evening before the
September 21 anti-corruption rallies in Metro Manila, Brawner met with eight retired military officers from the United People's Initiative (UPI), led by former Air Force general
Romeo Poquiz, at
Camp Aguinaldo after accepting their request letter to hold a meeting with him. In the meeting, Poquiz allegedly proposed for the military's removal of support for President
Bongbong Marcos to solve the large-scale
corruption scandal involving flood control projects, with Brawner recounting their argument that "somebody else deserves to be president, but they did not mention who that is". Brawner ultimately refused their proposal, citing the military's loyalty to the Constitution. In February 2026, under Brawner's helm, the AFP assumed the position as chairman of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) succeeding the
Malaysian Armed Forces as part of ASEAN's unified efforts to promote transparency, confidence-building, and cooperation following the
Thailand-Cambodia border crisis. As the Chair of the AOT, the AFP's role is only limited in observations, verifications, and reported updated developments on the grounds as part of ASEAN protocol and the principles of non-interference. Brawner also led the AFP delegation to meetings with the
Royal Thai Armed Forces, including its
Chief of Defence Forces General
Ukris Boontanondha, and the
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and its
Commander-in-chief General
Vong Pisen. The AFP has also deployed additional teams under the helm of a major general, and will be assisted by a brigadier general as head of the AOT-Thailand and a commodore as head of the AOT-Cambodia. ==Awards and decorations==