Brian Mast
| Brian Mast | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 18th district |
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Assumed office January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Murphy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 10, 1980 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Hutchinson Island, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Harvard University Extension School |
| Occupation | Military veteran and politician |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Website | House website |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1999–2011 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | 28th Ordnance Company |
| Awards |
Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Defense Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal |
Brian Jeffery Mast (born July 10, 1980) is an American politician and former United States Army soldier who serves as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 18th congressional district.
Mast was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan and graduated from South Christian High School in 1999. He is the son of James Mast and Tixomena Trujillo. His maternal grandparents were legal immigrants from Mexico. Mast graduated from the Harvard Extension School where he studied economics with minors in government and environmental studies.
Mast enlisted in the Army in 1999 upon graduation from high school and became an Explosive Ordinance Disposal technician, defusing bombs. He served in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On September 19, 2010, while clearing a path for United States Army Rangers in Kandahar, he took a wrong step into an IED along the road. The explosion resulted in the amputation of both his legs and one of his fingers.
Mast and his family were the recipients of a custom ADA-compliant home awarded to them by the non-profit organization Helping a Hero. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Mast was hired as an explosives specialist for the Department of Homeland Security. While recovering from his injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Mast provided explosive and counter-terrorism expertise to the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Department of Homeland Security.
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