Brady Kay Howell

Brady Kay Howell, 26, a beloved and fun-loving husband, son, brother, uncle and friend, died suddenly while working at the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001, as a result of a tragic attack on the United States of America. 

Brady was born April 4, 1975 in Rexburg, Idaho. His childhood and adolescence were spent in Sugar City, Idaho, where he was actively involved in many activities at school, with friends, and with his family. He was a student-body president of Sugar-Salem High School and received his Eagle Scout award. In high school he participated in student government, track, drama, Swing Choir, speech, football and Boys’ State. Loaded with a happy disposition, determination, and a love for anything fun, Brady sparked many memorable events his family and friends will always treasure. He conveyed his zest for life and kindness to all he met. 

As a lifelong devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brady served a two-year mission to the Canary Islands. More recently, he also served as a Primary teacher and Cub Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America. His love and faith touched the lives of many, especially the children he taught at Church. 

On November 8, 1996, Brady married his friend and love, Elizabeth “Liz” Anderson of Honeyville, Utah, in the Bountiful, Utah L.D.S. Temple. Together they shared love, mutual support and many adventures. Brady never corresponded with family or friends without mentioning his love and appreciation of his precious wife. 

Brady received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in New York, while working for the Office of National Security Studies. He received undergraduate degrees in Political Science from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. Brady’s intellect, character and integrity resulted in his selection to the Presidential Management Internship (PMI) program in Washington, DC upon graduation from Maxwell. It was through this prestigious program that Brady chose to begin his bright career in public service. Through the impressions that Brady made, he managed to secure a very competitive position with the Chief of Naval Operations. As a fan of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and James Bond, Brady always wanted to earn a Top Secret clearance. Consequently, he strived to live his life in a manner consistent with those worthy of a nation’s trust, and was granted the privilege of a Top Secret clearance just several weeks before his death. He wore his many Pentagon and Navy identification clearance badges with a humble dignity, always conscious of the responsibility that accompanied them. 

Brady posthumously received the Superior Civilian Service Medal for his accomplishments in the Navy. While assigned to the Chief of Naval Personnel Staff, Brady was focused on developing an understanding of the demographics of those sailors leaving the Navy. His significant knowledge of the relevant issues resulted in important contributions to the plans and policies that will govern Navy personnel into the future. 

Brady’s next assignment was with the Resources, Requirements & Assessments Staff. While there, Brady developed program options that will influence the development of the Navy for years to come. After quickly assessing the imbalance between requirements and available funding for ship maintenance, he made cogent recommendations to address the situation, providing the basis for decisions affecting ship maintenance for the next five years. 

Beginning in June 2001, Brady became the first PMI assigned to Director of Naval Intelligence Staff (DNI) where he first worked on the DNI’s Executive Board that sets strategy and policy for the entire Naval intelligence community. Most recently, he began training as a watch officer for the CNO Intelligence Plot (IP) – a position normally reserved for only the most qualified and promising intelligence officers. As an IP watch officer, Brady provided daily briefings to the Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of the Navy, and other senior military and civilian decisionmakers. By his distinctive contributions and inspiring dedication to duty, Brady reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. 

More recently, Brady learned of his successful passing of the second and final phase of the Foreign Service Examination thereby qualifying him to work at the prestigious post of Foreign Service Officer. 

In addition to the Superior Civilian Service Medal, Brady has been awarded the Defense of Freedom Medal, which is the civilian equivalent of the military’s Purple Heart. In making the award, Defense officials recognized Brady as being at his station of duty on September 11, 2001 in defense of his country in a capacity no different than that of a soldier on the field of combat or a sailor at sea in harm’s way.