TCC Center for Military and Veterans Education has new executive director

Bill Brown is the new executive director and associate vice president for strategic partnerships at Tidewater Community College’s Center for Military and Veterans Education (CMVE), effective immediately.

Brown, who brings 24 years of distinguished military service to TCC, as well as experience in higher education, replaces inaugural executive director Bruce Brunson, who retired.

“I am very excited to join TCC in a role that supports our military and veteran students and their family members,” Brown said. “I’ve always enjoyed working with military members and veterans at all stages of their careers, and that translates well into the mission of the CMVE, where we are dedicated to ensuring all of our military-related students succeed at the highest levels.”

About one-third of TCC’s student enrollment is military-related. The CMVE has offices on all four of TCC’s campuses. Brown’s office is located in the Kempsville Building at the Virginia Beach Campus.

In the newly created role of associate vice president for strategic partnerships, Brown will serve as the principal liaison to the military commands in Hampton Roads for educational matters. He will also represent TCC in various meetings and programs with military educators.

Brown served as director of the Military Connection Center at Old Dominion University, where he supported more than 6,000 military-affiliated students. In addition, he was a U.S. Army ROTC professor of military science while on active duty.

He retired from the U.S. Army in 2014 as a lieutenant colonel, serving as the capability development team chief, NATO Smart Defense Team. He deployed to Iraq three times and held several other posts, including deputy brigade commander and adviser to an Iraqi army general and U.S. Army liaison officer to NATO European Division.

He was commissioned into the Army through ROTC in 1990 as a second lieutenant. He served as a brigade executive officer, company commander, aide de camp and platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division, 17th Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment.

Brown holds a bachelor’s in economics from Lafayette College and a master’s in business from Webster University. A native of Somerville, N.J., Brown and his wife, Sandra, reside in Norfolk.