Alvin Brown

Brown was born in Beaufort, South Carolina on December 15, 1961.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Otis |date=January 13, 2025 |title=Alvin A. Brown (1961- ) |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/alvin-a-brown-1961/ |work=BlackPast.org |access-date=June 10, 2025}}Peterson, Kyle (June 6, 2011). [http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/06/06/1680584/florida-mayor-elects-roots-grew.html "Florida mayor-elect's roots grew deep in Lowcountry soil"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812052243/http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/06/06/1680584/florida-mayor-elects-roots-grew.html |date=2011-08-12 }}. The Island Packet. Retrieved August 9, 2011. He moved to Jacksonville in 1981 and attended Edward Waters College and Jacksonville University, where he earned his bachelor's and Master of Business Administration degrees.

While at Edward Waters, Brown became a member of the Delta Psi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.{{Cite web |last=Craige |first=Brent |date=2021-10-13 |title=The First Black Mayor of Jacksonville, FL Alvin Brown Is A Member of Kappa Alpha Psi |url=https://www.watchtheyard.com/kappas/the-first-black-mayor-of-jacksonville-fl-alvin-brown-is-a-member-of-kappa-alpha-psi/ |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Watch The Yard |language=en-US}}

Brown was an intern for Bill Nelson while Nelson was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He worked on the staff of the Clinton-Gore transition team in 1992 and 1993, and then began work in the Clinton administration as a member of Ron Brown's staff at the United States Department of Commerce. Brown completed a visiting fellowship at the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service{{cite web |title=Alvin Brown |url=https://politics.georgetown.edu/profile/alvin-brown/ |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Institute of Politics and Public Service |publisher=Georgetown University}} in spring 2016.

During the 1990s he served as an advisor to Andrew Cuomo who was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, President Bill Clinton, and Vice President Al Gore.Gibbons, Timothy J. (May 10, 2011). "[http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-05-10/story/alvin-browns-washington-experience-extensive-somewhat-elusive Alvin Brown's Washington experience extensive, somewhat elusive]". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved on May 20, 2011. In the Clinton administration, he served as deputy administrator for community development, rural business and Cooperative development services at the United States Department of Agriculture; executive director of the Office of Special Actions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development; executive Director of the White House Community Empowerment Board; co-chair of the White House Task Force on Livable Communities; and senior advisor for urban policy and vice chair of the White House Community Empowerment Board.

After serving in the Clinton administration, Brown worked as the executive-in-residence at Jacksonville University's Davis School of Business; president and CEO of the Willie Gary Classic Foundation; executive director of the Bush/Clinton Katrina Interfaith Fund; and chairman of the board of the National Black MBA Association.

File:Mayor Alvin Brown.jpg

Brown entered the race for mayor of Jacksonville in 2011. The incumbent Republican, John Peyton, was term-limited. Widely considered an underdog in the March primary election,"[http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-01-09/story/alvin-brown-player-mayors-race-if-not-favorite-win Alvin Brown a player in mayor's race, if not a favorite to win]". The Florida Times Union (January 9, 2011). Retrieved on May 18, 2011. Brown came in second in the six-person race to face the front runner, Republican Mike Hogan, in the runoff election. On May 17, Brown narrowly defeated Hogan by 1,648 votes in what was called the closest mayoral election in Jacksonville history."[http://www.news4jax.com/news/27923813/detail.html Closest Mayor's Race In History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521015419/http://www.news4jax.com/news/27923813/detail.html |date=2011-05-21 }}". News4Jax.com (May 17, 2011). Retrieved on May 18, 2011.Gibbons, Timothy J. (May 19, 2011). [http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-05-19/story/jacksonville-mayor-elect-alvin-brown-celebrates-begins-transition-peyton "Jacksonville Mayor-elect Alvin Brown celebrates, begins transition with Peyton"]. The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved on May 20, 2011. Brown became the first African American ever elected Mayor of Jacksonville, as well as the first Democrat elected since Ed Austin in 1991. The win was considered a major upset in light of the momentum gained by the Republican Party and the conservative Tea Party movement in the 2010 elections, and a significant victory for the Florida Democratic Party.Smith, Adam C. (May 20, 2011). [http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/in-jacksonville-mayoral-loss-lessons-for-florida-gop/1170638 "In Jacksonville mayoral loss, lessons for Florida GOP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523131945/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/in-jacksonville-mayoral-loss-lessons-for-florida-gop/1170638 |date=2011-05-23 }}. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved May 23, 2011. Brown was sworn in as mayor on July 1, 2011. Brown lost his 2015 re-election bid to Republican Lenny Curry.

In August 2022, Brown was nominated to serve as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board by President Joe Biden.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-03 |title=Biden to nominate former Florida mayor to serve on U.S. safety board -official |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-biden-ntsb-idINL1N2ZF28Y |access-date=2022-08-04}} On July 12, 2023, the Senate Commerce Committee advanced the nomination.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-12 |title=Senate Panel Approves NTSB Nominee Alvin Brown |url=https://www.ttnews.com/articles/panel-ntsb-alvin-brown |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=Transport Topics |language=en}} His nomination was confirmed by the full Senate on March 8, 2024.{{cite web |date=8 March 2024 |title=PN114 — Alvin Brown — National Transportation Safety Board, 118th Congress (2023-2024) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/114 |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=www.congress.gov}} He was elevated to the position of Vice Chair of NTSB on December 20, 2024.{{Cite web |date=December 23, 2024 |title=National Transportation Safety Board Member Alvin Brown Appointed as Vice Chairman |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20241223.aspx |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=NTSB}}

On May 5, 2025, Brown was removed from his post by the Trump administration, more than a year before his term was set to expire on December 31, 2026. No reason was given for Brown's dismissal and the removal of a sitting NTSB board member is highly unusual.{{Cite news |last=Aratani |first=Lori |last2=Duncan |first2=Ian |date=2025-05-06 |title=Trump administration abruptly removes vice chair of the NTSB |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/05/06/vice-chair-ntsb-removed-trump/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} His removal came during a period of heightened aviation safety concerns and broader dismissals from independent agencies.{{Cite news |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=May 6, 2025 |title=White House removes NTSB vice chair |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-removes-ntsb-vice-chair-sources-2025-05-06/ |access-date=May 6, 2025 |work=Reuters}}

While living in Washington, Brown met his wife Santhea. They have two sons, Joshua and Jordan.Gibbons, Timothy J. (May 5, 2011). "[http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-05-05/story/wives-jacksonville-mayoral-campaign-trail-santhea-brown Wives on the Jacksonville mayoral campaign trail: Santhea Brown]". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved on May 20, 2011.

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• [http://www.coj.net/Mayor.aspx Official Website of the City of Jacksonville, Florida - Mayor]

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{{s-bef|before=John Peyton}}

{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Jacksonville|years=2011–2015}}

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Category:1961 births

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Florida

Category:African-American mayors in Florida

Category:Florida Democrats

Category:Jacksonville University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of Jacksonville, Florida

Category:People from Beaufort, South Carolina

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:20th-century African-American politicians

Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections