The American Red Cross Southern California Region has announced the appointment of Jason Brand, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)as its new Director of Service to the Armed Forces/International Services for the region.
Media Contact:
Brianna Kelly, Regional Communications Manager
brianna.kelly@redcross.org
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 29, 2022) – The American Red Cross Southern California Region has announced the appointment of Jason Brand, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)
as its new Director of Service to the Armed Forces/International Services for the region, which serves San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Brand will lead the region’s Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces and International Services departments in providing Red Cross assistance to service members, veterans and their families as well as families seeking reunification assistance and more through Red Cross International Services.
“Southern California is home to one of the largest military populations in the country,” says Brand. “I’m thrilled to join the Red Cross and lead our local team as we provide vital programs and services to local military members, veterans, and their families and caretakers.”
Each year, the Red Cross Southern California Region provides thousands of services to the military community. From their first day of enlistment, service members are eligible for Red Cross assistance, from 24/7 emergency communications and access to financial support during emergencies, to information and referral services, to confidential reconnection, mind-body and resiliency workshops, to military hospital and clinic programs, veteran services and more.
“The Red Cross has a long legacy of serving our armed forces,” says Brand. “It’s a legacy I’m proud to now be a part of.”
Brand will also lead the region’s International Services efforts. By reconnecting families separated by crises, helping to rebuild communities devastated by disasters, or working alongside health organizations to eliminate global disease, the International Services of the Red Cross works every day to provide relief in all corners of the globe.
Originally from Arvin, California, Brand graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Leadership and Management. He went on to earn a Master of Marine Affairs degree from the University of Rhode Island and a second master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Brand has directed law enforcement and other maritime operations at three Coast Guard Districts and at Sector Jacksonville, Florida. His career included multiple tours in San Diego, California at Naval Coastal Warfare Group-One, Sector San Diego, and the Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team. Brand is an Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, and his awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Coast Guard Commendation Medal with Operational Distinguishing Device (4), Navy Commendation Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary medals.
Brand also volunteers and serves on the board of directors with the San Diego Foster Angels and the Association of Naval Service Officers (ANSO), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the recruitment and mentoring of Hispanics and Latinos and Latinas in the sea services.
To learn more about Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces, visit redcross.org/military. For more information about International Services, visit redcross.org/international.
About the American Red Cross Southern California Region
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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