It could be hard to find someone with as diverse a background as Operational Test Command's audiovisual supervisor Tad Browning.

Recently returned from his second tour in Iraq as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 36th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs, Texas Army National Guard, Browning has worked as a forensic photographer, an official Army photographer, a test documentation photographer/videographer, an Army broadcaster and a school community relations specialist over his 20-plus year dual career.

"I feel privileged to have worked in the many different kinds of jobs that I have," he said. "I learned so much from each one of them, and the experience I took away from each job continues to benefit me today."

Two weeks ago Browning was promoted and assigned as the first sergeant for the 100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Texas Army National Guard, in a ceremony at the state Capitol in Austin.

"We held the ceremony beneath a painting of Davy Crockett," Browning said. "This had special meaning to me because I am a descendant of Elizabeth Patton Crockett, the wife of Davy Crockett at the time of his death.

"And it was even more meaningful because my wife, my mother and my father and father-in-law, World War II and Korean War veterans respectively, were able to attend."

In addition to eight and a half years of active duty service and 11½ years of National Guard time, Browning also has more than 14 years of civilian experience with the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers, and the U.S. Army Operational Test Command.

Browning's military career has included assignments with the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion, Savannah, Ga.; 308th Military Intelligence Battalion, Panama; U.S. Southern Command, Panama; and 36th Sustainment Brigade and 100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Texas Army National Guard.

"One of the most incredible assignments I had was to work for both Gen. Barry McCaffrey and Gen. Wesley Clark when they were commanders-in-chief at SOUTHCOM," (Southern Command) he said. "My subjects ranged from the vice president of the United States to the secretary of defense to foreign ministers of defense and military leaders. It has really given me an appreciation for our country and the work that the military does."

The award-winning Browning and his mother, Helen Widener, recently published a book on quilts, featuring images of their distant relative Elizabeth Patton Crockett's quilts.

Although he is glad to be back in Texas, Browning said he doesn't get as much time at home as he'd like due to the busy command test schedule, which takes him all over the United States.

"I've been very fortunate to work with so many professionals throughout my career and I look forward to more challenges in the future," he said.