Versatility, flexibility and talent.

Brian says he joined the Navy right out of college to fly Navy jets, but because of a severe sinus condition, he soon learned that flying would not be a possibility. “I really thought about it,” Brian recalls. “And I soon came to the conclusion that it was being an Officer in the Navy that was really important to me — more so than the flying part.”

So, being flexible, Brian next consulted with friends and fellow Officers, and many suggested he become a SWO (Surface Warfare Officer). Brian looked into this and found the opportunities available to SWOs to be many and wide-ranging. SWOs are the elite group of ship drivers and ship fighters in charge of shipboard operations and activities for various platforms, including aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious ships, combat-logistics support ships and mine sweepers.

Brian ultimately took their advice, and an illustrious Navy Reserve career began. “There were a few ways to become an SWO,” Brian explains. “The path I chose was to go into the full-time support program for the Navy Reserve or what was called the TAR (Training and Administration of the Reserve) program back then.”

As an SWO and a member of the TAR community, Brian has had an extremely varied and successful career. While serving as Mine Countermeasures Officer and 1st Lieutenant in Operation Desert Storm, he earned his Combat Action Ribbon for live mine recovery operations. Other positions he has held include Engineering Officer; Executive Officer; Commanding Officer Navy Reserve Center, Burlington, Vermont; Plans/Security Cooperation Officer; HQ U.S. European Command Staff in Stuttgart, Germany; and most recently, he took command of a Guided Missile Frigate.

According to Brian, he has really come to appreciate the versatility, flexibility and opportunity the Surface Warfare Program has given him. “You get to learn so much as an SWO,” he says. “The myriad of experiences and training we are exposed to is truly unique, and it creates such a well-rounded Officer and person who is capable of handling and thriving in a number of situations and roles.”

Brian cites a recent example aboard his own ship to further make his point. “Our ship is preparing for an upcoming inspection, so we’ve called upon an SWO, who’s also a drilling Reservist, to help us out because of his considerable knowledge, background and skill in engineering.”

Brian explains that he’s not the only Commanding Officer who is now readily utilizing the talents of Reservists. “We are finding now that a lot of Navy Reservists are prior servicepeople who’ve had extensive training and long careers with the active Navy or other branches of the military,” he says. “So now, Commanders are really starting to see that the Reservists often have greater talents and more experience than a number of people currently on Active Duty. Lately, I’ve really seen this noticeable shift where Reservists are being utilized a lot more often and in a lot more vital and substantial roles than they ever were in the past.”

Proving there is indeed a lot of talent in Navy Reserve, Brian’s personal decorations include a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five Navy Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Brian lives in the Southern United States with his wife Elaine and their two daughters, Brianna, 11, and Maria, 7 — and in his free time — he likes to play tennis and golf.