Brian Fricke

Brian Fricke (born November 19, 1981, in Albany, Georgia) is an Iraq War veteran, former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and was a civil rights activist who served on the board of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), 2008 to 2012.

Career
Having worked in the computer science field while serving the Marines, He moved to Washington, DC, where he became a federal employee as an IT Specialist. He has since worked for USAID/OIG, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in New York, and is currently with the Dept of the Navy Military Sealift Command. He serves as the IT Service Management Branch Manager.

Education
As of 2014; Brian Fricke will hold a Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University a Master's Certificate in Strategic Cyber Security Enforcement from the George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security Management from National University.

Publications

 * CIO Magazine Article.

Background
Born an only child, Fricke was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, by his mother and father in a Non-denominational Christian home. He participated in football, baseball, basketball and soccer growing up. Brian was in the scouts at a young age and through his high school years attained the rank of Corporal with the Knox County Sheriff Explorers.

Military service
Fricke enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps his Junior year of School, entering the Delayed Entry Program at age 18. He graduated Marine Corps Recruit Training in Parris Island, SC, October 2000, attaining the rank of Private First Class. After follow-on training at Marine Combat Training in Camp Geiger, he attended Aviation Electrician's Mate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola. He then attended follow-on school for the CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopter at MCAS New River.

Having attained Lance Corporal and being sent to his first fleet command aboard MCAS Miramar, Fricke worked with HMH-361 briefly until transferred to HMH-466 for a deployment to MCAS Futenma in Okinawa, Japan. He was promoted to Corporal and was transferred from the Avionics shop into the Quality Assurance Division. Corporal Fricke received his first Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM) upon return from the deployment to the United States. He was able to get the entire Squadron's computer network infrastructure back online, acting as an impromptu liaison between his squadron and the higher MAG 16 S-6 Command. This began his transition into Information Technology.

February 2004 Corporal Fricke deployed to Iraq aboard Al Asad Airbase with his unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II and was again functioning largely in an S-6 (Network Administrator) capacity for the unit. He also augmented the air crew, flying about a half dozen sorties. He served in Iraq for 9 months returning to the US (being promoted to Sergeant while en route) in September 2004. He was awarded another NAM after a Wing inspection. He served in the QA Staff Billet, serving as the S-6 liaison until his End of Service.

Sergeant Fricke chose not to re-enlist because of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy and received an Honorable Discharge in 2005.

Activism

 * SLDN's Honor Every Veteran Campaign
 * Spoke at the SLDN National Dinner
 * Testified at the Rayburn Building as the Military Readiness Enhancement Act is reintroduced
 * Spoke at Harvard Law School Lambda Second Annual Gay And Lesbian Legal Advocacy Conference
 * Panel Speaker at Out For Work
 * Spoke alongside the American Sociological Association at a Senate Briefing for the Senate Judiciary Committee.
 * Testified in NYC in support of a City Resolution
 * Spoke at the University of Miami Law Symposium
 * Represented SLDN at the First South Beach Pride Parade in 2009
 * Presented to the City of Oakland Park Commissioners

Volunteerism

 * 2001 - Assisted in training and mentoring with the Pensacola Police Department Police Explorer Program
 * 2001 - Mentored at the Pensacola Boy Correctional Facility
 * 2005 - Public speaking and awareness events with the national non-profit organization - SLDN.
 * 2009 - Advocacy and legislative grassroots organization with local Florida residents to push for City Resolutions (see articles)
 * 2009 - Elected to Secretary of the Board of Directors for SLDN.

Media

 * Metro Weekly Interview.
 * National Public Radio Interview.
 * Honor Every Veteran Campaign.
 * SLDN National Dinner 2006.
 * DNC Fundraiser Controversy.
 * San Antonio Fundraiser.
 * SLDN Dinner Speech.
 * USA Today.
 * Palm Center Report.
 * CNN with Eric Alva.
 * Gay Military Signal.
 * Seattle Gay News
 * 60 Minutes Interview.
 * Oakland Park City Resolution in support of DADT Repeal Passes.
 * Orlando Sentinel.