#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Veteran Brent Taylor

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is U.S. National Guard Veteran Brent Taylor. Brent served from 2003-2018 in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2003, Brent joined the U.S. National Guard and in 2006 was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the Military Intelligence Corp. Over his military career, Brent served four deployments, two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. In Iraq, Brent first served as a convoy security commander and then as an advisor to Iraqi national intelligence agents. In Afghanistan, Brent first served as a combat advisor to the Afghan Border Police and then as a combat advisor to Afghan commandos.

While not on deployment, Brent pursued an education in social sciences. In 2006 Brent graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s in Political Science and a minor in Military Science. In 2012 he graduated from the University of Utah with a master’s in Public Administration. He had also been pursuing a doctorate in International Relations at the University of Utah.

In his professional career, Brent worked for several military and government agencies, including the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Ground Intelligence Center and the Department of Homeland Security.

Brent began his political career in 2009 when he was elected to a seat on the North Ogden City Council. In 2013, Brent ran in the North Ogden mayoral race and was elected Mayor of North Ogden City.

In January of 2018, while still serving as Mayor, Brent received orders for his fourth deployment. Brent accepted his call to service and was assigned as part of an advisory team sent to train an Afghan commando battalion.

On November 3^rd, 2018, while advising Afghan forces in Kabul, Brent was killed during an apparent insider attack.

During his fifteen years of service, Brent served a number of positions: platoon leader, battalion plans officer, vulnerability assistance officer, explosive ordinance disposal office, mobile training team chief, selective service officer and recruitment sustainment program coordinator. Brent also earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart along with a number of various service and achievement medals for actions during his service. Brent ended his service at the rank of major.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Graphic By Alexandra Craig: Alexandra Craig is an undergraduate senior at the University of San Francisco studying International Peace and Conflict Studies.