Brown graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on June 6, 1914 and was commissioned Ensign on that date. He was subsequently assigned to battleship "Georgia" under the command of future Chief of Naval Operations, Robert Coontz and deployed to Mexican waters in order to protect American interests during the Mexican Revolution. From August to October 1914, "Georgia" operated in Haitian waters to protect Americans in the country, which was also experiencing internal unrest.