About Clifton L. Brown, Jr.
Clifton L. Brown, Jr. is a 1973 graduate of the University of Maryland and an Army veteran. In March 2007, Clif retired as the Special Agent in Charge of the Operations Division, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Treasury, with almost thirty-four years of total U.S. Government service.
Clifton L. Brown, Jr. Bio
Clif is an Attorney, licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Starting in 2008, in coordination with the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland and Civil Justice, Clif provided Pro Bono legal advice to homeowners concerned about losing their homes during the financial crisis, at numerous Foreclosure Solutions Workshops held throughout Maryland. In 2013, he received a Pro Bono Appreciation Recognition Certificate at the Maryland House of Delegates for this work.
In 2013, Clif was elected to the Board of Directors of the University of Baltimore (UB) Foundation Committee, where he attended Law School. He also joined the Law Dean’s Circle and works to address funding challenges during these times of diminishing state resources.
In 2014, Clif was elected and installed as the Grand Master of the I.O.O.F. Grand Lodge of Virginia and will finish his term in May of 2015. This position is a culmination of going through the chairs, first as Grand Warden, then as Deputy Grand Master, and then the Grand Master chair, over the last three years. Each position has presented a unique set of challenges to Clif. He is pleased that every issue he inherited or that developed during his tenure has been addressed, going into this year’s Grand Lodge Session.
About the Scholarship
A proud veteran, alumnus and Maryland attorney, Clifton Brown established this scholarship to provide financial assistance to veteran students, particularly those whose military occupational specialty was explosive ordnance disposal. This scholarship is provided in grateful appreciation for the educational opportunities and support he received.
“My wife and I believe in the power of education to elevate the individual, which as a direct consequence elevates free democratic societies. To that end, we have provided resources to assist veterans; to help those who have already sacrificed a portion of their lives for the common good and who know, better than anyone else, that freedom is not free.” -Clif Brown
Meet Our Scholars
Sharon Lokesh serves in the Army Reserves as a signal support specialist and recently completed a nine-month deployment with the 411th Engineer Brigade in support of Operation Spartan Shield in Camp Buehring, Kuwait. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's in computer science at the University of Maryland and has joined the ROTC program to develop her leadership skills. Sharon aspires to become a commissioned officer in the military, combining her technical expertise with her commitment to service.
Sharon Lokesh, 2024-2026 Scholar
Past Scholars
Lafayette Tyger (2025-2026 Scholar)
Lafayette Tyger has eight years of service in the United States Marine Corps. He’s held various billets, from training Marines to inspiring the next generation of leaders. Lafayette has always been an active participant in the local communities where he was stationed, volunteering to combat adolescent involvement in gangs and feed the homeless. Lafayette plans on using his degree and talent to continue serving this great Nation and create an everlasting impact.
Bill Howl (2023-2024 Scholar)
Bill Howl comes from a military family, his grandparents were WW1 Veterans, his father who is now 99 years old is a WWII Veteran as were three of his brothers- the youngest was in the Korean War. He grew up during the Vietnam War and fully expected to go but it ended before he was old enough. Bill went to college and had a couple of good jobs, but when the Gulf War happened he signed up and spent 10 years on the Blue side of the Navy with the ships and 10 years on the Green side of the Navy with the Marines. He did three tours of duty in Iraq. He retired after 21 years. Bill’s three children are Cadets at three senior military academies; The Citadel, Virginia Tech, and Norwich.
Michael Cortese (2021-2024 Scholar)
Michael Cortese is originally from Long Island, New York, and joined the US Coast Guard early in life. As a Coast Guardsman, he served 3.5 years active duty as a petty officer stationed in Surf Station Yaquina Bay located in Newport, Oregon. He is currently majoring in Mechanical Engineering with plans of working with renewable resources. When not doing schoolwork, Michael enjoys being with family and going on hikes.
Brendon Hessler (2022-2023 Scholar)
Brendon Hessler is originally from Southbury, Connecticut, and joined the Army after high school in 2016. Stationed in Yakima, Washington, he served for 4 years active duty as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, with a deployment to Afghanistan in 2019. He is currently a junior majoring in Government and Politics with a minor in Global Terrorism Studies, and plans on going into law enforcement after graduation. While not in school, Brendon enjoys skydiving, hiking, and is working towards his pilot’s license.
Jonathan Jewett (2017-2018 Scholar)
Jonathon Jewett is an eight year veteran of the US Air Force and is a member of the Delaware Air National Guard working in Cyber Systems Operations. He is a sophomore majoring in computer science.
Martin Buitrago (2016-2017 Scholar)
Martin Buitrago is a first generation college student and Maryland native. He studies computer science at the University of Maryland and wants to work as a software developer after finishing school. Having served as a mechanic in the Army Reserve since 2007, Martin has had one deployment to Iraq and numerous assignments around the country. He also hopes to commission as an officer after graduating in order to continue his service.