Commissioner Brett Martin
Chairman, The American Legion
Phone: (405) 523-4000
Brett Martin was born in September 1961 to Roger and Georgia Martin and raised on a 400-acre farm near Climbing Hill, Iowa. After graduating from Woodbury Central High School in 1980, he attended Morningside College for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1986.
Commissioner Martin graduated with honors from Aerographer's Mate A1 School and served at the Naval Oceanography Command Detachment in Naples, Italy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of New York. Commissioned from Officer Candidate School in May 1992, he completed Surface Warfare Officer and Engineering Officer of the Watch qualifications on the USS Harry W. Hill (DD 986) with two Persian Gulf deployments. He later served at the United States Strategic Command and earned dual Master of Science degrees in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2002.
He served as the Oceanographer and Senior Watch Officer on USS Boxer (LHD 4) during Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2005 to 2007, Commissioner Martin was the Officer-In-Charge of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Detachment, Pacific, followed by roles at Commander Third Fleet. He commanded the Strike Group Oceanography Team, San Diego, before serving as Executive Officer, Fleet Weather Center San Diego.
In 2011, Commissioner Martin joined the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, holding several key positions, and later served at the Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center. He retired in December 2017 after 31 years of service. Now residing in Oklahoma City, he currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit Technology for Veterans, the Commanders Project. He is a Commissioner and Chair of the OK Veterans Commission, and Chair of the Governor’s Taskforce on Veteran Suicide Prevention. He has served as the Department of Oklahoma American Legion State Commander and has previously served as the Commander of American Legion Post 12 in Bethany/Warr Acres.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit (gold star), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two gold stars), Navy Commendation Medal (four gold stars), Joint Service Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Navy Achievement Medal (three gold stars), and various theater, sea and service medals.
