Nancy Elizabeth Brown Vice Admiral Nancy E . Brown most recently served as the Director , Command , Control , Communications and Computer Systems ( C4 Systems ) , The Joint Staff . She is the principal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on all C4 systems matters within the Department of Defense . Her service spans 32 years . She retired in 2009 . Prior to her final assignment , Vice Adm . Brown was the Director of Command Control Systems , Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command and Director of Architectures and Integration , Headquarters U . S . Northern Command , Peterson Air Force Base , Colorado . She also served as the Commander , Navy Element and Chief Information Officer for both commands . Biography . Vice Adm . Brown is a native of Glen Cove , New York . She was raised in Marion , Illinois , and is a 1973 graduate of Stephens College in Columbia , Missouri . Naval career . Following completion of Officer Candidate School in Newport , Rhode Island , in June 1974 , Vice Adm . Brown reported to her first duty station , Naval Communications Station , Norfolk , Virginia She was assigned as communications watch officer , followed by automation officer and personnel officer . She then served as the special projects and manpower requirements officer at the Naval Telecommunications Command in Washington , D . C . After her tour in Washington , D . C . , Vice Adm . Brown attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey , California , where she earned a master of science degree in Communications Systems Management . She was then assigned to the Defense Commercial Communications Office at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville , Illinois . This joint tour qualified Vice Adm . Brown as a proven subspecialist in communications and led to her designation as a joint specialty officer ( JSO ) . From this joint assignment , Vice Adm . Brown was enrolled in the Junior Course at the Naval War College in Newport , Rhode Island . Completion of this course led to the awarding of a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies . Her follow - on assignment was as the officer in charge , Naval Radio and Receiving Facility Kamiseya , Japan . Returning from overseas , Vice Adm . Brown was assigned to the Joint Tactical Command , Control and Communications Agency in Washington . After this second joint tour , she was assigned as the executive officer ( XO ) at the Naval Communications Station in San Diego , California . A major segment of this tour was devoted to the establishment of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station , San Diego . Upon completing this XO tour , Vice Adm . Brown was enrolled in the Senior Course at the Army War College in Carlisle , Pennsylvania . In August 1993 , Vice Adm . Brown assumed command of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Cutler , Downeast , Maine . After completing her command tour , she was selected for assignment to the National Security Council staff at the White House where she reported for duty in August 1995 . In July 1997 , Vice Adm . Brown assumed command of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic headquartered in Norfolk , Virginia . Completing her command tour in June 1999 , Vice Adm . Brown returned to the White House as the Deputy Director , White House Military Office . It was during this tour Vice Adm . Brown was selected for Rear Admiral . In October 2000 , she reported to the Chief of Naval Operations as Deputy Director and Fleet Liaison , Space , Information Warfare , Command and Control ( N6B ) . In August 2002 she assumed duties as Vice Director for Command , Control , Communications , and Computer Systems ( J6 ) , the Joint Staff . In August 2004 she deployed to Iraq becoming the first Multi - National Force – Iraq C6 Headquartered in Baghdad and returned to the Joint Staff in April 2005 . In August 2005 Vice Adm . Brown assumed the duties as J6 Director for both North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command . In August 2006 she assumed her current duties as the Director , Command , Control , Communications and Computer Systems ( C4 Systems ) , The Joint Staff . Education . Vice Adm . Brown graduated from Stephens College in Columbia , Missouri in 1973 with a bachelors degree in education . She attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey , California , where she earned a Master of Science degree in Communications Systems Management . Brown completed the Junior Course at the Naval War College in Newport , Rhode Island , leading to the awarding of a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies . Awards and decorations . Vice Adm . Brown ' s decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , the Defense Superior Service Medal ( with two Oak Leaf Clusters ) , the Legion of Merit ( with Gold Star ) , the Bronze Star , the Defense Meritorious Service Medal ( with Oak Leaf Cluster ) , the Meritorious Service Medal , the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal , the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal , the Iraq Campaign Medal ( with two Bronze Stars ) , the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal , the Armed Forces Service Medal , and the National Defense Service Medal ( with two Bronze Stars ) .