Skip to Content

Blog


November Client Spotlight

November 1, 2021 in News

We are proud to say we have simply amazing people in our family of Clients. Each month we take time out to shine a spotlight on our clients’ accomplishments, passions, and experiences. Please meet Thomas R. Brown.

Born in Arcadia Florida to Thomas Richard Brown Sr. and Mildred Viola Welles Brown, hailing from early Florida pioneering families that were influential in establishing banking, orange grove operation, and cattle ranching in the region.  Tom graduated from Bolles School in Jacksonville in 1947 and in 1952 earned his B.S. in Architectural Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.  As a First Lieutenant and after as a civilian in the U.S. army, Tom was Project Engineer for Corporal Missile Weapons System at White Sands Proving Ground, New Mexico. 

In 1957 Tom joined Chrysler Corporation and helped start up its Missile Division. Over the next 11 years he was Staff Engineer, Program Engineer and Technical Director for the Redstone, Jupiter-C and Mercury Redstone missile systems in Detroit, and Operations Manager for those missile systems as well as Jupiter systems at Cape Canaveral.  He subsequently directed the design and construction of launch facilities and ground servicing systems for the Saturn I Program for Chrysler.

In 1987 Tom joined General Dynamics as Director of a start-up operation at Port Canaveral that, specializing in space launch systems and facilities, converted Air Force Launch Complex 36 for use on Atlas and Atlas Centaur commercial launch vehicles.

Always civically active, Tom served as President of the Florida Chapter of the American Defense Preparedness Association, State Treasurer (New Mexico) of the Reserve Officers Association, Board of Trustees of the Florida Institute of Technology and Chairman of the Canaveral Chapter of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.  As a leader in the Brevard community during the early 1960s, Tom helped to incorporate Indian Harbor Beach. He was active in organizing United Fund, serving as Campaign Chairman and Board member and was on the Board of Community Advisors in the start of University of Central Florida.  He served on the board of Trustees of Brevard Engineering College through its becoming fully-accredited Florida Institute of Technology.  Tom has also been an active member of Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church, serving several terms on the Council and in various leadership capacities over the years.

Tom met his wife Nancy on a blind date just before college and fell head over heels in love.  After 52 years of marriage, Nancy passed away in 2006. Together they raised three children, two daughters, Lori Schildwachter (Alan) and Linda O’Keefe (Daniel) and one son, Thomas Richard III who passed away from cystic fibrosis in 1982.  Tom is blessed with six grandchildren, Evangelene, Daniel Thomas, Elizabeth, Coleen, Ryan, and Ross whom he adores.

SCHEDULE CONSULTATION

Free Consultation

This slideout can include a call-to-action or a quick scroll back to the top.

Scroll to Top