Rear Adm. Mike Brown is a native of Montgomery, Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in 1989 from Tulane University and a Master of Science in Foreign Service in 1991 from Georgetown University. He completed Joint Professional Military Education at the Naval War College and Joint Forces Staff College. 

Brown was commissioned in 1995 as a Direct Commission Reserve Officer. He mobilized in 2001 to Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot in Washington, D.C., to reconstitute intelligence operations after the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.  He mobilized in 2015 as officer in charge of the Intelligence Train, Advise, and Assist mission for Operation Resolute Support in Kabul, Afghanistan. In 2017 he served on orders as a senior assistant to Director, Navy Staff in Washington, D.C.

His reserve shore assignments include reserve defense attaché with Defense Intelligence Agency 0166 in Washington, D.C.; operations officer and executive officer, U.S. European Command 0430, Molesworth, United Kingdom; executive officer, U.S. European Command 0167, Atlanta, Georgia; and chief of staff, Naval Information Force Reserve, Fort Worth, Texas. 

His reserve command assignments include Chief of Naval Operations Information Warfare, Washington, D.C.; U.S. European Command 0167, Atlanta, Georgia; U.S. Africa Command J2, Washington, D.C.; Defense Intelligence Agency 0601, Fort Dix, New Jersey; and Regional Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve Region, Washington, D.C. 

As a Flag Officer, he is on orders as a Director under the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare (OPNAV N2N6).  

Personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and various unit, service, and campaign awards.

As a civilian, Brown serves as a Foreign Affairs Specialist in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.