Major General James K. “Red” Brown was born and raised in Woodville, Texas. He received his commission in the United States Army in May of 1980 from the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Texas A&M University. He served in multiple command and leadership positions within the Army National Guard, culminating as the Deputy Commanding General – Army National Guard, US Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

Major General Brown deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as a primary staff officer with the 49th Armored Division, serving as the G5/Chief of Civil-Military Affairs for the Division and Task Force Eagle. He commanded the 56th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq from January through December of 2005 under the 18th Airborne Corps. His combat command included 6 battalions, 31 companies and over 4000 Soldiers. Major General Brown commanded the 36th Infantry Division for twenty-nine months and was then selected to be the Deputy Commanding General-Operations, First United States Army, Rock Island, Illinois.  

Major General Brown was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge in Iraq and he has twice been awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He was awarded the Legion of Merit (2 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (six awards), and numerous others.  He has been admitted into the Order of Saint George (bronze and Silver) by the US Armor Association, the Order of Saint Maurice by the Infantry Association, the Order of Saint Barbara by the Fires Association, and the Order of Saint Michael by the Aviation Association. 

Major General Brown retired with more than thirty-nine years of service on August 1, 2019. Major General Brown currently serves as the Senior Training Advisor within the National Security Training Solutions program at Valiant Corporation. He is also the majority owner of Texas Water Systems, an independent water utility company located in Tyler, Texas. 

Major General Brown resides in Hideaway, Texas with his wife of 35 years, Jane. They have two daughters, Crystal and Hannah, one son-in- law, Kevin and two grandsons, Colton and Carson.