Commanding Officer
Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement
Capt. James Brennan assumed command of the Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement in May 2023.
Brennan is a native of Chicago and graduated from St. Rita High School in 1993 before earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wabash College in 1997. He enlisted in 1997 and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 2001. He earned a master's degree in National Security Studies (Far East) from Naval Post Graduate School in 2008.
His previous operational tours include: deployments with Commander, Amphibious Squadron 5 embarked on amphibious assault ship USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3); Carrier Air Wing 17 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70); and Carrier Air Wing 11 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Additionally, Brennan conducted multiple deployments to Afghanistan as the officer in charge of Defense Intelligence Agency's Afghanistan Threat Finance Cell and as an operations officer assigned to Kabul, Afghanistan. He also conducted an individual augmentee deployment to Iraq assigned to Multi-National Forces-Iraq.
Brennan’s shore tours include an enlisted tour assigned to Naval Air Station Sigonella as a naval law enforcement officer. His commissioned shore tours include: collection manager assigned to Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI); student assigned to Naval Post Graduate School; executive officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Jacksonville; operations officer assigned to Joint Activity Support Element, Los Angeles; detachment chief assigned to ONI; commanding officer, Information Warfare Training Command, Virginia Beach; and senior defense officer and Navy senior service representative assigned to Associate Director for Military Affairs.
Brennan's personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3), Meritorious Service Medal (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal (3), Navy Commendation Medal (3), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3).