Retired SSgt. Brian Pierce is due to graduate this year with an Associate of Science degree in Paralegal and an Associate of Arts degree in Social Studies Education. Brian is a very motivated person. Born in Michigan in 1975, Brian enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from A.C. Mosley High School in Panama City, FL. As a PFC, Brian was assigned to the 8th Engineer Support Battalion. While there Brian was promoted to the rank of Corporal and was reassigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit as Assistant Administrative Chief and Section Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. Brian and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) participated in Exercise Dynamic Response as part of Operation Joint Guard in support of the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As a Corporal, Brian and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) participated in Exercise Dynamic Response as part of Operation Joint Guard in support of the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Promoted to Sergeant in 1998, Brian deployed again with the 26th MEU (SOC) to Operation Joint Guardian in Operations in Kosovo in 1999 and in September of 2001, Brian deployed with the Command Element of the 26th MEU (SOC) to participate in Operations in Afghanistan and again in 2003 to Operations in Iraq. After his promotion to Staff-Sergeant in 2004, Brian was assigned to the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) where he would deploy with the 8th Marine Regiment to the Area of Operations in Fallujah, Iraq in February 2005 to March 2006. Brian deployed as a Military Transition Team member for a year from 2007 to 2008 in support of Operations with the 7th Iraqi Infantry Division. Among his sixteen medals are the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars, the Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star, the Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three stars and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two stars.
Brian currently works in the State Representative’s Office as an Administrative Assistant and is a substitute teacher for Bay District Schools. He also teaches at his church and volunteers for the Annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign, which raised over 28,000 toys that were distributed to many local organizations. Brian feels one of the great opportunities that students are missing is the chance to mentor their fellow peers and to open new windows of opportunities for them.
Although the two Professors that had the most impact at his time at Gulf Coast, Dr. Phillips and Professor Trentanelli, Brian believe that you are your best teacher, you need to seek answers and continue learning all through your life. Brian’s best advice to both current and future students is to be fiscally responsible, know the answers to questions that will be asked, do good for others, work hard, work smart. Be a friend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maryann
Student Author - Spring 2017
Maryann is a designer, front-end developer and family gal. I like to doodle over fonts and pour through code. Designing web interfaces has to be one of the most challenging and rewarding careers, next to teaching. Requiring constant upgrading of knowledge, meeting demanding deadlines and finding solutions to criticism. And that’s why I love it. In my spare time, I spend as much time with my family Geocaching and playing Pokemon Go. I have an incredibly family and patient husband, James and three wonderful children. Chances are, you’ll find me either in front of a computer screen, at school, or with my family.
