Brett Bowden is a former Recon Marine who served with 2nd Recon Battalion and 2nd Marine Special Operation Battalion (now known as 2nd Marine Raider Battalion). He deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and his military awards include a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor. During his tour with 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, his Team Leader SSgt. Edgar A. Heredia and Forward Air Controller Capt. Garrett T. Lawton were both killed in action, fueling his desire to give back to Gold Star families and the Raider community. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Brett served in the Intelligence Community for over a decade, with numerous deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. He currently works at Scientific Research Corporation as a Senior Project Manager and manages a portfolio of Signal Intelligence projects for the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC). He holds an MBA from the Citadel and resides with his wife and daughter in Charleston, SC.