Charles L. Brembry, II

Name: Charles Brembry
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Branch: Air Force
Years Served: 1996-2017
Rank: SMSgt
Military Occupation: 6C091, Contracting
X (Twitter) Handle: @CLBrembry

Tell us a little about you outside of the military: Since I retired in 2017 I have held several positions in commercial companies dealing with contracts. I recently completed a 5 month Entrepreneurial Fellowship through Dog Tag, Inc and Loyola University in Chicago. In my spare time I love to travel and spend time with my family.

What do you hope to gain from the fellowship? I hope to gain a blend of skills, mentorship, and community connections that will allow me to grow both professionally and personally. I’m excited about opportunities to apply what I learn to projects or initiatives that make a real-world impact, whether through community engagement, research, or practical applications. Contributing meaningfully to something larger than myself is a big motivator for me. I hope to build a supportive and diverse network of peers and alumni who are also passionate about advocacy. Forming meaningful connections with others in the fellowship can lead to collaborative opportunities, diverse perspectives, and a lasting community.

What does advocacy mean to you? Advocacy, to me, means standing up for others’ rights, voices, and needs, especially for those who may be marginalized or unheard. It’s about actively working to create a fairer, more just environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Advocacy isn’t just about speaking up; it’s also about listening, learning from diverse perspectives, and building empathy and understanding to drive meaningful change. Effective advocacy involves both awareness and action. It means using one’s skills, influence, and resources to address inequities, raise awareness, and push for tangible outcomes that improve people’s lives.

How did your military experience shape you to be the person you are today? Being a member of the Air Force for over 20 years taught me many valuable skills and lessons.  It gave me the successful career I have today.  It ingrained in me a stronger since of discipline and dedication to something larger than myself.  It shaped me into being a leader, but more important than that it showed me how to be a valuable team member.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you believe is the most pressing? Why? Repealing AUMF. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ended years ago so why are we still deploying military members under the same AUMF? It needs to be repealed or at least reformed.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you have the strongest personal connection to? Why? Alternative Therapies has the strongest connection to me. Being a veteran with PTSD and depression, I deserve access to non-traditional therapies to help me cope with these diagnoses. Veteran’s deserve access to the same medicals our civilian counterparts receive.