You would have to look hard to find someone with as diverse a background as Operational Test Command’s audiovisual supervisor Tad Browning.

He recently returned from his second tour in Iraq as the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the 36th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, Texas Army National Guard. Browning also 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.”

Having racked up 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 at a wide-variety of locations, including OTC.

Although glad to be back in Texas, Browning doesn’t get much time at home due to a busy OTC test schedule, which takes him all over the United States.

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