Alumni Biography A - F
COL (Ret) Les Brownlee
Mr. Les Brownlee became the 27th Under Secretary of the Army on November 14, 2001, following his nomination by President George W. Bush and confirmation by the United States Senate. Since May 10, 2003, he has served as Acting Secretary of the Army. As Acting Secretary of the Army, Mr. Brownlee fulfills statutory responsibilities for recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training and mobilizing the Army and managing its $80 billion annual budget and more than 1.3 million active duty, National Guard, Army Reserve and civilian personnel. Mr. Brownlee served on the Republican staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee beginning in January 1987, under both Sen. Strom Thurmond and Sen. John Warner. From 1987 to 1996, he was the Principal Senate Armed Services Committee Professional Staff Member responsible for Army and Marine Corps programs, special operations forces and drug interdiction policy and support. In addition, as Deputy Staff Director, he was deeply involved in policies and programs relating to ballistic missile defense, strategic deterrence and naval strategy, shipbuilding and weapons programs.
In March, 1996, Mr. Brownlee was designated Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Armed Services by then Chairman, Sen. Thurmond. In January, 1999, he was designated Staff Director for then Chairman, Sen. Warner, serving through the recent change in control of the Senate.
Mr. Brownlee is a retired Army colonel. He was commissioned in 1962 as a lieutenant in the infantry through the ROTC program at the University of Wyoming. He is a distinguished honor graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger Course, an honor graduate of both the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College, and a graduate of the Army’s airborne course as well as the U.S. Army War College. Mr. Brownlee served two tours in Vietnam. During the last two and a half years of a four and a half year tour in the Pentagon, before retiring in 1984, he was Military Executive to Under Secretary of the Army James Ambrose.
His military decorations include the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart. He holds a masters degree in business administration from the University of Alabama.
LTC (Ret) Thomas Core
LTC (R) Tom Core (Greybull Wyoming) was commissioned from the University of Wyoming ROTC program in 1986 and spent 20 years in the Field Artillery. LTC (R) Core has held positions from Platoon Leader through Brigade S3. His last assignment was as a combat developer for command and control systems at Fort Leavenworth KS. LTC (R) Core has had numerous assignments in Germany, Fort Irwin CA, Fort Sill OK, Kuwait, Iraq, and Fort Leavenworth KS. LTC (R) Core awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal and numerous Army Achievement Medals. LTC (R) Core is married to the former Jerrie Stringer (University of Wyoming Army ROTC 1988) and resides in Leavenworth KS. He is currently employed by General Dynamics.
MAJ Shane Crofts
Commissioned May 1996 in EN Corps. Served in the USAR as an AGR Officer from 1997 to 2001. Returned to the Wyoming Army Guard in 2001 and worked as a Contracting Officer. Mobilized the first WY ARNG unit in support OIF as the Cdr of 1041st EN Co in Jan 2003. Mobilized and served 1 year in Kuwait with the 115th FA BDE. Currently serving as the 115th FA BDE S-1, and work full-time as the Mobilization Readiness Officer for the WYARNG.