Alexandria, Virginia Nov 8, 2024 (Issuewire.com) - The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) recognized Robert Brevelle with Endowment Member status and entry into the Ring of Freedom for his many contributions to the shooting sports and national security.
Robert proudly served this country with distinction, and that alone is worthy of our recognition, said Bill Reynolds of the NRA . But he has contributed so much more to his local community and national security, namely in the fields of electronic warfare, nuclear command and control and the intelligence community. For this and more, we honor this lifelong patriot, hunter, marksman, and friend.
Robert is already a life member of the NRA, but his membership status is now elevated to Endowment Member along with his induction into the Ring of Freedom.
CSC announced that in addition to these honors from the NRA, they will donate $10,000 to a ROTC scholarship program of his choosing to honor his commitment to education and leadership. For his patriotic service, memorial bricks inscribed with his name will be installed at 2 military memorials in Louisiana and Texas as well as at the Louisiana National Guard Museum at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans.
Roberts service to this country in uniform and as a civilian is the model set forth and lived by our founding fathers and represents the touchstones of the NRA, said CSC Board Member Bob Allen. He is a patriot, scholar, officer, and a gentleman of the highest caliber. He sets the mark by which the rest of us measure ourselves in the workplace and in life.
I am touched beyond words by these gracious and humbling accolades, said Robert Brevelle. I could not imagine a life without service to my country and fellow man. I have always viewed it as a noble and rewarding endeavor. I hope to be of service for years to come.
Roberts entry into marksmanship started with his first step towards military service. As a student of Army JROTC at Leesville High School, Robert joined the rifle team eventually becoming the teams commander.
I joined the rifle team for 2 reasons. The first was because MSG Tyree told me to volunteer, and the second was because I wanted to improve my marksmanship for hunting. My Dad was a crack shot. He would take his daily bag limit of squirrels with identical headshots using a bolt action 22 rifle that was as old as Louisiana. In spite of his patient instruction, I would rarely achieve my bag limit and shot placement wasnt pretty. Surrounded by him and the old timers, I was embarrassed and began to sinfully use a 410 shotgun. You have to understand that squirrel hunting was like a religion in the Louisiana of my youth. So much so that schools closed for the opening of squirrel season.
Roberts introduction to the NRA followed shortly thereafter. The NRA sponsored competitions and provided training and marksmanship materials to JROTC and other youth programs.
The instruction and example set by all of the JROTC faculty, especially Colonel McCloud, provided my bearing in life. The rifle team and the NRA programs were part of my maturation.
Upon graduation from Leesville High School, Robert was the only student in the country to receive full 4-year college scholarships from every branch of the US Armed Forces. Robert chose the Army, and at the age of 17, was made a platoon leader of a reserve infantry unit in the simultaneous membership program while attending college.
As a college student, Robert worked part-time in restaurants, the library, security at Soldier Field and the United Center, and in his last year, he worked as a programmer at a dot-com startup. The university president took the ambitious teenager under his wing. Robert was ringside when the Chicago Bulls won a championship or two and watched Michael Jordans private practices at Keating Sports Center. He was mentored and studied under Nobel laureates, conducted research in echocardiographic imaging at Rush Medical Center, and published two papers in international conferences, one of which based on his masters thesis. For his dot-com innovations, he earned a treasure chest of startup stock. He was clearly not your average college student.
Robert set the university record for number of credit hours taken in a semester. A record that stands to this day. This allowed him to complete a 5-year undergraduate and 2-year graduate degree in 4 years.
In his free time, Robert was on the universitys cross country team, Army Ranger Challenge team, president of the racquetball team, a nationally ranked martial artist, and he ran the Chicago marathon, twice. He received scholarships from Nike, Coca-Cola, military and fraternal orders, and other organizations.
At Army Advanced Camp at Fort Lewis, he graduated at the top of his regiment. He completed Air Assault School and competed annually in the Army Ranger Challenge. As an Infantry platoon leader, he made sure to achieve a perfect score each year on his Army Physical Fitness Test. Upon completion of the ROTC program, he received the coveted Distinguished Military Graduate award.
At the age of 21, Robert graduated with a bachelors and masters degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Neither the record setting course load, weekly military training, sports, or the accelerated research programs interfered with his graduating with high honors.
In the military, the NRA and JROTC marksmanship training proved invaluable. Robert was awarded the highest marksmanship qualification badges. He qualified as Expert in rifle, pistol, and grenade. As a platoon leader and again as company commander, he was honored by his soldiers with the Officer of the Year award. While serving in the Texas Guard, he was fast tracked and promoted to lieutenant colonel by brevet (at the young age of 26) and given command of the 3rd Battalion, 19th Brigade Military Police Corps. The largest battalion in Texas with an area of operations bigger than most states. Texas Military Forces Museum lists Robert as the youngest battalion commander in history. He won a few shooting tournaments along the way.
In his civilian career, Robert became the youngest executive of a Fortune 500 Company. He held executive and board positions at multiple aerospace and defense companies such as Rockwell Collins, L-3 Harris, Leonardo, and Teledyne. He received awards from NASA, Department of Defense, Special Operations Command, and Lockheed Martin for his fierce support of the warfighter. For fielding an advanced remote sensing system that resulted in the saving of countless lives, he was recognized by the Joint IED Defeat Organization. He has flown on all Air Force One platforms and most of the US and UK flagship reconnaissance and intelligence gathering aircraft. He is regarded as an expert in electronic warfare, cyber defense, and counter-intelligence.
I was fortunate to be mentored by exceptional business leaders such as Lt Gen Bob Raggio, Maj Gen Bob Drewes, and L-3 founder Frank Lanza. They instilled in me a deep respect for serving a noble cause by providing the very best solutions to the warfighter and never losing sight of what is of paramount important as an American captain of industry.
Robert was an early member of the Veterans Job Mission providing hundreds of thousands of jobs to military veterans. He ran diversity programs serving minorities and veterans at several large corporations. The Small Business Administration named him one of the Top 100 Investors that support veterans and veteran-owned businesses. He was a founding sponsor of the National Museum of the US Army and scholarships for children of veterans pursing a military career. For his service and unwavering support of his brothers in arms, his name can be found inscribed in the lobby of the Naional Museum of the US Army and on the Path of Remembrance at Fort Belvoir.
Now, the Louisiana National Guard Museum and the military memorials in his hometown and adopted state of Texas will bear his name alongside other heroes.
Roberts advice to young adults interested in the shooting sports is to train hard, strive to live a life of honor and consequence, and support the NRA so future generations may enjoy their right to bear arms.
Roberts love of the shooting sports continues. While he no longer shoots competitively, he still enjoys target shooting and hunting.
These old eyes arent what they used to be, but I still surprise myself with what my old 22 and 30-06 can do. Its taken a while, but Ive become a crack shot [when it counts] like my Dad. My son will see that when we hunt together, and thats all Ive ever wanted.
Robert is a life member of the Association of the US Army, National Guard Association, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Society of American Military Engineers, the intelligence communitys Association of Old Crows, and Mensa.
Source :Cyber Security Services (CSC)
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