John A. Brieden

John Brieden, III (Born 1955) is a former national commander of the American Legion, a past member of the Texas Veterans Commission and the Brazos River Authority, and is currently the Republican county judge of Washington County, Texas. 

Background
Brieden is a native of south Texas and graduated from Calallen High School before going to Texas A&M to serve in the Corps of Cadets. While in college he was a roommate of future Texas Governor Rick Perry. Upon graduation Brieden was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served for close to five years on active duty, leaving the service with the rank of captain.

Brieden moved to Brenham, Texas after leaving the army and opened his own State Farm Insurance office. He also began to slowly, but methodically, move up the ranks of the American Legion serving as post, district, and state commander before being elevated to position of national commander in 2003.

National Commander
Brieden would serve as the American Legion national commander from 2003 to 2004. During his time he represented the Legion at hundreds of meetings around the nation and visited thousands of local American Legion posts.

Boards and Commissions
Brieden has served on numerous boards and commissions such as the Texas Veterans Commission and the Brazos River Authority. Each of these positions were attained by appointments from Gov. George W. Bush and Gov. Rick Perry.

Candidate for County Judge
Long involved in Republican party politics as a delegate, fundraiser, and advisor, Brieden in 2010 decided to run for the office of county judge in Washington County, Texas. He would go on to defeat his opponent, Joel Romo, in the March 2010 Republican primary with 3,337 votes (56.1%) to 2,608 votes (43.9%). Brieden then won the general election over Democrat John Muegge in the November with 6,895 (65.7%) votes to 3,598 (34.3%).