[1] He graduated from Dwight Morrow High School, Englewood, New Jersey, in 1945 and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1949.

Brown was commissioned in December 1951 at Craig Air Force Base, Alabama, after completing pilot training as a distinguished graduate.

His first assignment was to Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, as a student in the F-80 Shooting Star jet transition program.

He flew 125 combat missions in F-86 Sabrejets with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in South Korea and another 100 combat missions in F-4 Phantoms during tours of duty in Thailand at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1966 and Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1969.

Brown went to Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in 1973 as deputy commander for operations, 64th Flying Training Wing.