Obituary of Doug Brown

Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas "Doug" Brown, 76, passed away at home in Burke, Virginia on November 25, 2021.  A veteran with a distinguished twenty year career in the U.S. Air Force, Doug served in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Defense Superior Service Medal.  Doug is survived by his wife Cassandra Brown, daughter Melissa Brown, son-in-law Christopher Whatley and grandchildren Samantha and Charlotte Whatley; son Christopher Brown and daughter-in-law Jessica Barba Brown and grandchildren Mei-Kim and Josephine Brown; and brothers Robert Brown and Bruce Brown and sister Diana Padavich. 

Doug was born on November 30, 1944 in Portland, Maine to Robert and Nancy Brown and married Cassandra Schreiber in Tampa, Florida in 1970. He is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York.  In 1966, Doug was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force and served three tours of duty in Southeast Asia including flying MIG CAP on the Son Tay Raid as part of the Triple Nickel Squadron.  Before he retired, Doug was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal for his work with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) while serving the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.  After retiring from the Air Force, Doug joined Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as a Senior Analyst and then later worked for Leidos as a Senior Test Manager.

Doug enjoyed regular visits to his hometown Gloucester, Massachusetts, enjoying the ocean view from Atlantic Drive where he and his wife resided several weeks during the year.  He really enjoyed the occasional Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park with family.  Doug was active in the Lutheran church, including Saint John's Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia, Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Washington D.C. and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia.   

A visitation will take place at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8304 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, Virginia on Saturday, December 11th, 2021 from 1 pm to 2 pm, followed by a funeral service at 2 pm and reception, also at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.  Doug will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, March 31, 2022 with services beginning at The Fort Myer Old Post Chapel at 9:00 am. Funeral arrangements are provided by Advent Funeral Services in Falls Church, Virginia.  In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in memory of Lt. Col. Douglas Brown and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.