Sam Brown (military officer)

Brown was born in Arkansas into a military family; his father and two younger brothers also served in the war on terror after the September 11th attacks. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Methodist University. == Military service ==

After completing his training at the United States Army Infantry School, Ranger School, and Airborne School, Brown joined 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. he and his soldiers were wounded by an improvised explosive device when responding to another US Army unit that was ambushed and in a direct fire. He was evacuated and was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 2011, Brown retired as a Captain from the U.S. Army. == Civilian career ==

In 2012, Brown founded Palisade Strategies, a firm that provided critical medications to veterans when Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics could not. == Political campaigns ==

In 2014, Brown ran in the Republican primary for the District 10 seat in the Texas House of Representatives. He finished in third place with 27.5% of the vote. In 2021, Brown launched his campaign to become a US Senator from Nevada. His campaign drew national attention, both from media and fundraisers. He raised over $1 million every quarter of his campaign as he challenged Adam Laxalt, a Republican who was endorsed by Donald Trump for the US Senate seat. Brown received the support and endorsement of local and state political party leaders, but lost in the primary election, receiving 34% of the vote to Laxalt's 56%. After this loss, Brown formed the Duty First PAC. As of August 2023, the Duty First PAC had spent most of the contributions it had received to repay debts from Brown’s 2022 campaign, with 7% of its spending going to other Republican candidates. 2024 U.S. Senate campaign In July 2023, Brown announced his second candidacy for a Nevada U.S. Senate seat, this time challenging incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen in the 2024 election. His Republican challengers for the Republican nomination included former Trump administration Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter, former Nevada State Representative Jim Marchant, and ten other candidates. His campaign was endorsed by U.S. Republican senators Steve Daines of Montana and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. In February 2024, Brown's wife, Amy, spoke about an abortion she had in Texas just prior to meeting her husband. Sam Brown opposes a federal abortion ban and supports Nevada's current law that legally protects the right to an abortion. Brown had previously supported a 2013 Texas law banning abortion after 20 weeks that did not provide exceptions for rape or incest. In June 2024, Trump endorsed Brown in the Republican primary. Brown was a featured speaker at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, speaking on unity and the high cost of war. During Trump's nomination acceptance speech on the final night of the convention, Trump praised Brown, saying: "[Brown] paid the biggest price probably ever paid by anybody that is running for office, and I think he is going to do great." Brown was the only 2024 U.S. Senate candidate mentioned by Trump during his speech. Despite Trump winning the state of Nevada in the concurrent presidential election, Brown was defeated by Rosen, receiving 46.2% of the vote to Rosen's 47.9%. == Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs ==

In his capacity as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs, Brown has overseen the expansion of the National Cemetery Administration’s efforts to increase access to burial benefits for veterans and their families across the United States. General Dan Caine in August 2025 On September 10, 2025, he delivered keynote remarks at the dedication of the Southern Utah National Cemetery in Cedar City, the first national cemetery constructed in Utah and the 157th within the VA system. The 8.14-acre site, developed from land acquired in 2018, is designed to accommodate approximately 15,000 interments at an estimated rate of 200 per year. == Nonprofit activity ==

Brown followed his 2022 campaign for U.S. Senate by becoming the chairman of the Nevada Faith and Freedom Coalition, a political non-profit organization. The state chapter's efforts focused on "combating human trafficking, advocating for meaningful criminal justice reform, and supporting the devastated communities recovering from the COVID-19 shutdowns." == Personal life ==

Brown is a member of the Cherokee Nation. In May 2009, Brown married Amy Larsen, an Army first lieutenant from South Dakota and critical care dietitian who worked in the Department of Defense Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. ==Bibliography==

Brown's awards and decorations include: In addition, Brown has been awarded the Ranger tab and Parachutist Badge. Brown was inducted into the Northwood University Gallery of Distinction. ==References==