Michelle J. Brown

Director, Environmental Policy and Programs
Pentagon's Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Infrastructure, Energy and Environment

Ms. Michelle J. Brown is the Director of Air Force Environmental Policy and Programs at the Pentagon's Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Infrastructure, Energy and Environment. In this capacity, she leads the formulation, review, oversight, and execution of policies, strategic plans, programs, and budgets for both the Air Force and Space Force environmental programs. As the chief advisor to leadership, she ensures the seamless integration and oversight of enterprise-wide environmental and natural infrastructure programs. Her duties encompass evaluating and implementing Congressional, Department of Defense, and Air Force policies and procedural guidance to ensure effective execution by functional offices. She also represents Department of the Air Force equities in DoD and other federal agency forums.

Ms. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University and has pursued graduate studies in Environmental Science and Management. With over 26 years of professional experience, she has supported the Department of the Air Force in numerous environmental capacities. Her expertise encompasses environmental restoration and cleanup, regulatory compliance, natural and cultural resources management, overseas environmental policy and management, hazardous materials and waste management, integrated solid waste management, pollution prevention, and environmental technology transfer.

Before joining the Department of the Air Force, Ms. Brown began her career in 1995 as a scientist in HIV research, playing a crucial role in the early discovery of a rare protein capable of blocking HIV replication. She spent the next 15 years in the private sector, leading a team of environmental consultants as an environmental scientist. She supported the Department of Defense, the Air Force, Navy, and Army environmental programs through technical report writing, policy and guidance development, and providing environmental compliance and restoration expertise. She spent 6 years serving as a subject matter expert with the Colorado State University, Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands supporting Natural and Cultural Resources Management (Conservation) for the Air Force Headquarters environmental program and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC). She also acted as a liaison among SAF/IEE, AFCEC, ANG/A4V, and Headquarters Air Staff (A4C) environmental organizations, ensuring open and consistent communication and information sharing.