David M. Brown (Captain, USN)
Mission Specialist
Personal Data: Born April 16, 1956 in
Arlington, Virginia. Single. Enjoys flying and bicycle touring. Was
a four year collegiate varsity gymnast. While in college he
performed in the Circus Kingdom as an acrobat, 7 foot unicyclist
and stilt walker. His parents, Paul and Dorothy Brown, reside in
Washington, Virginia.
Education: Graduated from Yorktown High School,
Arlington, Virginia, in 1974; received bachelor of science degree
in biology from the College of William and Mary in 1978 and a
doctorate in medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School in
1982.
Organizations: Past President, International
Association of Military Flight Surgeon Pilots. Associate Fellow,
Aerospace Medical Association. Society of U.S. Naval Flight
Surgeons.
Special Honors: Navy Operational Flight Surgeon of the Year in
1986, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal.
Experience: Brown joined the Navy after his
internship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Upon
completion of flight surgeon training in 1984, he reported to the
Navy Branch Hospital in Adak, Alaska, as Director of Medical
Services. He was then assigned to Carrier Airwing Fifteen which
deployed aboard the USS Carl Vinson in the western Pacific. In
1988, he was the only flight surgeon in a ten year period to be
chosen for pilot training. He was ultimately designated a naval
aviator in 1990 in Beeville, Texas, ranking number one in his
class. Brown was then sent for training and carrier qualification
in the A-6E Intruder. In 1991 he reported to the Naval Strike
Warfare Center in Fallon, Nevada, where he served as a Strike
Leader Attack Training Syllabus Instructor and a Contingency Cell
Planning Officer. Additionally, he was qualified in the F-18 Hornet
and deployed from Japan in 1992 aboard the USS Independence flying
the A-6E with VA-115. In 1995, he reported to the U.S. Naval Test
Pilot School as their flight surgeon where he also flew the T-38
Talon.
Brown had logged over 2,700 flight hours with
1,700 in high performance military aircraft. He is qualified as
first pilot in NASA T-38 aircraft.
NASA Experience: Selected by NASA in April
1996, Brown reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996.
Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is
eligible for flight assignment as a mission specialist. He was
initially assigned to support payload development for the
International Space Station, followed by the astronaut support team
responsible for orbiter cockpit setup, crew strap-in, and landing
recovery.