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Athlete Spotlight – Suzanne Brown: Strength Through Determination and Willpower

August 26, 2021 | Story by Megan Trexler | Commander, Navy Installations Command

WASHINGTON – Maryland native, CAPT (Ret.) Suzanne Brown served the country for over 21 years as a U.S. Coast Guardsmen. Brown shared that the moment her military journey started, it was a unique experience and one she would never forget. “Something interesting about me is that I have an identical twin and we joined the U.S. Coast Guard together. We were actually the first set of female twins to join the Coast Guard Academy,” expressed Brown.

Throughout her military career, Brown found long term success. In 1995, she earned a Bachelor of Science, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering degree at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Three short years later, Brown enrolled in University of Michigan’s Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), Aerospace Engineering and Master of Science, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering programs. In 2000, successfully completed the two master programs.

From Florida and Massachusetts to Washington state, Virginia and Washington, District of Columbia, Brown has been able to travel across the country in pursuit of her career, which included her final duty station as the Chief, Office of Military Personnel at the U.S. Coast Guard headquarters.

Brown shared that her favorite quote is “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather lack of will," by Vince Lombardi. Based on her successful military career and the dedication and sense of focus she displays during Navy Wounded Warrior’s adaptive sports events, it’s evident that Brown embodies the meaning of this quote.

Brown, a freshman Team Navy athlete, was slated to compete in four sports during the 2021 Department of Defense Warrior Games. Her sports would have included cycling, indoor rowing, swimming and track. Brown shared that, because this was going to be her first games, she was looking forward to competing in all of the sports.

Navy Wounded Warrior is the Navy’s sole organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen and providing resources and support to their families.

The Warrior Games are a Paralympic-style competition among more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as from international armed forces. The 2021 Department of Defense Warrior Games would have been hosted at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida from September 12-22, 2021. The invitation-only event was going to feature 12 sports: archery, cycling, field, golf, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting (precision air), sitting volleyball, swimming, track, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. The 2021 DoD Warrior Games were canceled due to ensure the safety, health and well-being of our service members and local communities as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to affect the country.

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