Military Alumnus of the Year

Col. Scott Brannon (‘92 & ‘93)

Col. Scott Brannon serves as the Commander of the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Jacksonville State University.

A native of Boaz, Alabama, he enlisted in the Army in 1996 as a Signal Intelligence Analyst and Linguist. Brannon was commissioned in 1999 through the Officer Candidate School and branched into the Infantry. Following Officer Candidate School, additional courses at Fort Benning, completion of the Infantry Officer’s Career Course, Ranger Training, Intermediate Level Education, and the War College, Brannon has held several leadership positions throughout his career. Beginning as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Scout Platoon Leader, Brannon continued his career as a Company Commander, Brigade Operations Officer, an Army Interagency Fellow, Battalion Commander, Executive Officer for the Commanding General of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, and Professor of Military Science in the United States Army Cadet Command at Virginia Military Institute, among additional roles.

Brannon has six deployments in support of the Global War on Terror. His awards and decorations include the Expert Infantryman's Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Master Combat Infantryman Badge, 1 Legion of Merit, 1 Bronze Star with Valor device, 3 Bronze Stars, 5 Meritorious Service Medals, 6 Army Accommodation Medals, 8 Army Achievement Medals, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, 2 Meritorious Unit Citation, 1 Superior Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 Campaign Stars, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with 4 Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, 3 Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Order of Saint Maurice, the Order of Saint Michael, the Basic Instructor Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, Airborne Wings, Master Jumpmaster Wings, Military Freefall Wings, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Wings, the Ranger Tab and Netherland, Canadian, Chilean and Columbia Foreign Jump Wings.

Col. Scott Brannon is recognized as the 2026 Military Alumnus of the Year for his continued service and commitment to our community and nation.