Sam Brown (military)

Sam Brown
Brown in 2021
Personal details
Born	Samuel Boaz Brown (1983-10-15) October 15, 1983 (age 41) Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Amy Larsen ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	3
Relatives	Mike Brown (great-uncle)
Education	United States Military Academy (BS) Southern Methodist University (MBA)
Website	Campaign website
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	1st Infantry Division
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Bronze Star Purple Heart Combat Infantry Badge

Samuel Boaz Brown^[1] is an American political candidate and military officer. He served in the United States Army during the War in Afghanistan, and sustained burns to thirty percent of his body due to an improvised explosive device injury in 2008.

Brown began several business ventures and became active in Republican Party politics in Texas. In 2014, he unsuccessfully sought the party's nomination for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. After moving to Nevada in 2018, Brown unsuccessfully ran for the Nevada U.S. Senate nomination in 2022.^[2][3] He ran again in 2024, this time winning the Republican Party nomination, but lost to Democratic incumbent Senator Jacky Rosen in the general election.

Early life and family

Brown was born in Arkansas into a military family; his father and two younger brothers also served in the War on Terror after the September 11th attacks.^[2] He was educated at the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 2006.^[3][4] He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Methodist University.^[5]

Military service

Brown in 2009

After completing his training at the United States Army Infantry School, Ranger School, and Airborne School, Brown joined 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.^[5]

In 2008, he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan,^[5] where he served as an infantry Platoon Leader.^[6] In September 2008, while supporting the multinational cooperative project of delivering a turbine to the Kajaki Dam,^[7] he and his soldiers were wounded by an improvised explosive device when responding to another US Army unit that was ambushed and in a direct fire.^[3]

As a result, thirty percent of Brown's body was burned, and he lost his left index finger.^[3][6][8] He was evacuated and was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.^[6] Due to this event, he is sometimes called Burning Man.^[3]

Brown's recovery from the burn wounds and experimental pain management solutions were covered by multiple media outlets. He was a participant in medical studies using virtual reality to reduce pain during physical therapy sessions.^[7] His physical therapy was a long and painful process that lasted several years.^[9]

In 2011, Brown retired as a Captain from the U.S. Army.^[5] In 2012, he returned to Afghanistan to provide inspiration to US troops deployed there, and to have a chance for a "proper exit".^[10]

Civilian career

In 2012, Brown founded Palisade Strategies,^[11] a firm that provided critical medications to veterans when Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics could not.^[11] Brown sold the business in 2022.^[12]

Political campaigns

In 2014, Brown ran in the Republican primary for the District 10 seat in the Texas House of Representatives.^[8][13] He finished in third place with 27.5% of the vote.^[14]

In 2021, Brown launched his campaign to become a US Senator from Nevada.^[15] His campaign drew national attention, both from media and fundraisers.^[16][17] He raised over $1 million every quarter of his campaign as he challenged Adam Laxalt, a Republican who was endorsed by Donald Trump for the US Senate seat.^[18]

Brown received the support and endorsement of local and state political party leaders,^[19] but lost in the primary election,^[20] receiving 34% of the vote to Laxalt's 56%.^[21]

After this loss, Brown formed the Duty First PAC.^[22] As of August 2023, the Duty First PAC had spent most of the contributions it had received to repay debts from Brown’s 2022 campaign, with 7% of its spending going to other Republican candidates.^[23]

2024 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: 2024 United States Senate election in Nevada

In July 2023, Brown announced his second candidacy for a Nevada U.S. Senate seat, this time challenging incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen in the 2024 election.^[24] His Republican challengers for the Republican nomination included former Trump administration Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter, former Nevada State Representative Jim Marchant, and ten other candidates.^[25][26] His campaign was endorsed by U.S. Republican senators Steve Daines of Montana^[27] and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.^[28]

In February 2024, Brown's wife, Amy, spoke about an abortion she had in Texas just prior to meeting her husband. Sam Brown opposes a federal abortion ban and supports Nevada's current law that legally protects the right to an abortion.^[29][30] Brown had previously supported a 2013 Texas law banning abortion after 20 weeks that did not provide exceptions for rape or incest.^[31]

In June 2024, Trump endorsed Brown in the Republican primary.^[32] Brown was a featured speaker at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee,^[33] speaking on unity and the high cost of war.^[34]

During former Trump's nomination acceptance speech on the final night of the convention, Trump praised Brown, saying: "[Brown] paid the biggest price probably ever paid by anybody that is running for office, and I think he is going to do great." Brown was the only 2024 U.S. Senate candidate mentioned by Trump during his speech.^[35]

Nonprofit activity

Brown followed his 2022 campaign for U.S. Senate by becoming the chairman of the Nevada Faith and Freedom Coalition, a political non-profit organization. The state chapter's efforts focused on "combating human trafficking, advocating for meaningful criminal justice reform, and supporting the devastated communities recovering from the COVID-19 shutdowns."^[36]

Personal life

Brown is a member of the Cherokee Nation.^[37]

In May 2009, Brown married Amy Larsen, an Army first lieutenant from South Dakota and critical care dietitian who worked in the Department of Defense Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.^[3][6][8]

Brown and his family have lived in Reno, Nevada, since 2018 and are active members at their church, Calvary Chapel Reno-Sparks.^[38]

Bibliography

• Brown, Sam; Brown, Amy (September 4, 2024). Alive Day: Finding Hope and Purpose After Losing Everything. Houndstooth Press. ISBN 9781544546018.

Awards

• Combat Infantry Badge
• Bronze Star Medal^[4]
• Purple Heart^[39]
• Army Commendation Medal with Combat "V" device and oak leaf
• Northwood University Gallery of Distinction^[40]

References

1. United States Military Academy West Point - Howitzer Yearbook - Class of 2006. West Point, NY: West Point, NY. 2006. p. 211.
2. "Trump's Pick for Nevada Senate Faces Tough Primary Challenge". Time.
3. Jay, Kirk (January 31, 2012). "Burn Victim Sam Brown Treated With Virtual-Reality Video Game SnowWorld". GQ.
4. "We need new leaders and a new direction". Reno Gazette Journal.
5. "About". Sam Brown for Nevada.
6. "Soldier's life altering injury turns into unique war love story". www.army.mil. January 8, 2010.
7. "Kajaki Dam Turbine Delivered by NATO Forces". Reuters.
8. Rogers, Tim (December 14, 2013). "Sam Brown: The Reformed Candidate". D Magazine.
9. "Wounded troops mend as war coverage wanes". NBC News. September 10, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
10. "For servicemembers wounded in Afghanistan, a 'Proper Exit'". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
11. "About". Palisade Strategies. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
12. Turner, Abby (August 13, 2024). "Who's the wealthiest Senate candidate?". National Journal. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
13. Nicholson, Eric. "Sam Brown, a Wounded Army Vet Profiled by GQ, is Running for the Texas House". Dallas Observer. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
14. "Texas House of Representatives District 102". The Texas Tribune. March 6, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
15. Apgar, Blake (August 27, 2021). "U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown running against the political class". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
16. Steinhauser, Paul (October 7, 2021). "First-time GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown hauls in $1M in battleground Nevada". Fox News. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
17. Steinhauser, Paul (January 17, 2022). "First-time Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown hauls in $1M for second straight quarter". Fox News. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
18. Korecki, Natasha; Edelman, Adam (June 1, 2022). "'Outsider' in Nevada's GOP Senate primary surges, rattling Trump's pick". NBC News. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
19. Staff, News 4 & Fox 11 Digital (May 2, 2022). "Sam Brown, Joey Gilbert get endorsement recommendations at Nevada GOP convention". KRNV. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
20. Medina, Jennifer (June 15, 2022). "Adam Laxalt wins the Republican Senate primary in Nevada, setting up a high-stakes November fight". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
21. "2022 Official Statewide Primary Election Results - June 14, 2022". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
22. "Duty First PAC". Duty First PAC. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
23. Turner, Abby; Kaczynski, Andrew (August 12, 2023), Nevada GOP Senate candidate raised money to help other candidates – the funds mostly paid down his old campaign's debt instead, CNN, retrieved August 15, 2023
24. Vakil, Caroline (July 10, 2023). "Retired Army Captain Sam Brown launches second run for Nevada Senate". The Hill.
25. Gabby Birenbaum, Week later, underdog Nevada GOP Senate hopeful Gunter's ad buy begins to materialize, Nevada Independent (April 10, 2024).
26. "Nevada Republican who lost 2022 Senate primary seeking Democratic Sen. Rosen's seat in key US match". AP News. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
27. "Senate GOP lands a top recruit in Nevada". Politico. July 10, 2023.
28. "Veteran Sam Brown wins Blackburn endorsement, raises major cash in Nevada Senate run". Fox News. July 19, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
29. Korecki, Natasha (February 22, 2024). "Amy Brown, wife of GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown, opens up about her abortion for the first time publicly". NBC News. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
30. "Abortion story from wife of Nevada Senate hopeful reveals complexity of issue for GOP candidates". AP News. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
31. Richardson, Seth A. "Ad oversimplifies Nevada Republican's abortion stance". @politifact. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
32. Stern, Gabe (June 10, 2024). "Trump backs Sam Brown in US Senate race, widening momentum gap in crowded Nevada GOP field". AP News. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
33. "Sam Brown draws strong response at RNC promoting campaign against Nevada Sen. Rosen". July 16, 2024.
34. "Nevada Senate candidate Sam Brown speaks on 'cost of war' at RNC". NBC News. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
35. "D.C. Download: How Sam Brown, Nevada fared at the Republican National Convention". The Nevada Independent. July 20, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
36. https://www.axios.com/2024/05/20/nevada-senate-republicans-abortion-sam-brown
37. Lahut, Jake (June 14, 2024). "Secrets of Trump's Logan Paul TikToks to Woo MMA-Loving Men". The Daily Beast ('Trail Mix' newsletter). Retrieved August 20, 2024.
38. "Officer Survives Blast, Now Serving Others - Calvary Chapel Magazine". May 25, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
39. Leach, Matt (June 14, 2022). "Nevada Senate candidate Sam Brown says front-runner Laxalt has 'taken voters for granted'". Fox News.
40. "Gallery of Distinction". Northwood University. Retrieved April 3, 2023.

External links

• Official website

Party political offices
Preceded by Dean Heller	Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Nevada (Class 1) 2024	Most recent