He was born April 10, 1942, in Warren, Arkansas, to Leo Wylie and Geneva Doggett Pope. Brett’s father retired from the Air Force as a chief master sergeant after more than thirty years of service.
Brett married Judith Ann Hill on June 6, 1964, in Bossier City, Louisiana.
He graduated in 1960 from Bossier High School, Bossier City, Louisiana, and earned a Bachelor of Science in 1964 and a Master of Business Administration in 1966, both from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, now Louisiana Tech University, in Ruston, Louisiana. He was also a 1981 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National War College in Washington, D. C.
Brett was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on January 26, 1965. After he finished his graduate work, he entered active duty at George Air Force Base on August 31, 1966. His other duty stations were Randolph Air Force Base, the Pentagon, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and Gunter Air Force Station. His primary specialty was in information systems, doing computer systems development and operations. He retired on August 31, 1986.
Brett was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his service as a faculty member at the National Defense University from 1977 to 1979, where he developed and taught courses at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the National War College. He was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) for his contribution as the first program manager for the Air Force Worldwide Military Command and Control System Information (AFWIS) Program. His other awards included the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and various ribbons.
After retirement from the Air Force, Brett worked in business development for companies in Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.
Brett was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Catherine Pope Furtado, and a grandson, Joshua Michael Fitzgerald.
He is survived by his wife and by their daughters and sons-in-law, Amy and Preston Fitzgerald, Chantilly, Virginia; Allison and Charles Mangin, Raleigh, North Carolina; and Adrienne and David Yesner, Forest Hills, New York; and by five grandchildren, Caitlyn Elizabeth, Connor Preston, and Kiley Lauren Fitzgerald, Chantilly, Virginia; and Benjamin Griffis and Emily Kathleen Mangin, Raleigh, North Carolina. Brett is also survived by his niece, Teresa Brown, great niece, Christina Capre, and great, great nephew, Levy James Manuel Smith, all of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Brett was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, on March 25, 2021.
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