Their Story
Remembering Brian M. Bourgeois.
Captain Brian M. Bourgeois, United States Navy, died on December 7, 2021, of injuries he sustained three days earlier during a fast-rope training evolution near Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was 43 years old. A Louisiana native, Brian received his commission from the United States Naval Academy in May 2001, where he was a four-year member of the Navy football team and earned three varsity letters.
He served the Navy and the Naval Special Warfare community for more than twenty years as a Navy SEAL, completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training with Class 253. He later earned a master's degree in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, where he received the Pat Tillman Leadership Award.
Brian took command of SEAL Team 8 in November 2020 and was serving as its commanding officer at the time of his death. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” and the Combat Action Ribbon. Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III said of him, “Brian was one of our very best leaders, who possessed all the attributes that make our force effective.
We will miss his charismatic leadership and faithful stewardship of our standard.” On October 19, 2022, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro posthumously promoted him to the rank of Captain. Brian is survived by his wife and their children.