Chief Master Sergeant Daniel Kerry Brown (Gothenburg, Neb., Air Force)
A Gothenburg, Nebraska native, Chief Master Sergeant Daniel Kerry Brown first entered the Airforce in September of 1967. Sgt Brown began his flying career as an Aircraft Loadmaster on a C-141 aircraft in Southwestern California. His mission was to perform both ground and inflight duties aft of the flight deck. Eighteen months later he was transferred to the island of Taiwan flying on a C-130 aircraft in support of tactical mission in Vietnam. He was preforming airdrop and resupply missions to the Army where he received seven Air medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross for an airdrop of critical supplies at An-lock Vietnam. After the completion of his tour in Southeast Asia, Sgt Brown returned to flying C-141 aircrafts again and supporting Head Quarters Air Mobility Command (MAC) on special missions.
With over 8 thousand flying hours and 7 hundred combat hours in both the C-130 and C-141, Sgt Brown was selected to manage the acquisition of MAC’s new C-17 Aircraft. He oversaw the design, manufacturing, and development of the aircrew training system. Chief Brown was sent to USAF Head Quarters to manage the 300 enlisted aircrew members supporting the conflict in Bosnia and was also the USAF commander enlisted advisor.
Chief Brown retired with 30 years of service, over 10 thousand hours flying, and over 950 hours in combat.