By Mackenzie McClintock, SWFD Public Information Officer

After a hard-fought competition at Camp Butner, North Carolina, South Walton Fire District Beach Safety Lieutenant Brandon Brown was named the winner of the Region III Best Warrior Competition for the Army National Guard. This comes after his victory in the Florida National Guard’s Soldier of the Year competition, where he qualified for the regional event.

During his time at Camp Butner, Brandon represented the state of Florida, facing off against other enlisted soldiers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the Virgin Islands.

The Regional consisted of 25 events designed to test a soldier’s technical proficiencies, mental toughness, physical endurance, and adherence to Army values. Brandon flashed his beach safety racing roots, clocking a speedy 11:02 in the two-mile run and finishing top three in the 18.6-mile ruck.

After the weeks’ worth of competitive back-and-forth, Brandon rose to the top to claim the title of Region III Best Warrior.

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment and a reflection of his work ethic, which we are fortunate to see daily in his role with our Beach Safety Division,” said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. “His leadership and service across both arenas speak volumes about his character.”

Brown has served approximately seven years as a Beach Safety supervisor with South Walton Fire District, starting as a Beach Safety Officer in 2019. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2021, when he also took a leadership role in overseeing the District’s Junior Lifeguard Program.

Since then, he was named the Junior Lifeguard Program Coordinator and has grown the initiative to reach more than 200 children ages 9 to 16 every summer.

“Many of our personnel come from prior military service backgrounds and continue to serve our country in different capacities while working as first responders,” Crawford said. “Brandon earning this honor ahead of our 2026 Junior Lifeguard Program, and being publicly recognized for it, means we are celebrating the example he is setting for the children under his leadership this year. Each Junior should know they can do something great in life, no matter what avenue they choose to explore for their career.”

The South Walton Fire District congratulates Brandon on this exceptional accomplishment that he is bringing home to the South Walton community and the state of Florida. The District looks forward to seeing his journey continue at the U.S. Army’s national competition in July 2026, where he will represent the Southeastern United States.

To learn more about SWFD’s beach safety programs and how to stay safe along the coast, click here.