MAJ Steven Brothers

MAJ Steven Thomas Brothers (35), beloved husband of Margaret Brothers, died on May 30, 2012 at Walter Reed Navy Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Shortly after being assigned as Deputy Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation, U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar in January of 2012, Steve was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He succumbed to a secondary infection during Phase II of his chemotherapy treatment only weeks after going into remission.

The son of Eugene and Priscilla Ann Brothers, Steve was born in Potsdam, N.Y., on July 26, 1976. His family lived in Massena, NY and Bloomington, IN. Upon graduation from Indiana University in May of 1998, Steve was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. While he began his career as an Infantry Officer, a few years later he completed the Military Intelligence Course in Fort Huachuca, AZ. He was assigned as 5th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion’s Intelligence Officer where he personally wrote the entire ANNEX for the combined PSYOP Task Force and coordinated it with Korean counterparts at the ROK Ministry of National Defense. These are the only psychological operation component plans in existence within the Department of Defense.

Shortly after taking command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 4th PSYOP Group (Airborne) in Ft. Bragg, NC, Steve instituted a professional Enhance Sustained Airborne Training Program that resulted in no airborne related injuries during his two years as Commander. Upon completion of his command in 2006 Steve was selected to become a Foreign Area Officer. This career path took him to Monterey, CA where he attended the Defense Language Institute to learn Modern Standard Arabic. He graduated top in his class in December 2008, earning a Diploma with Honors and a Meritorious Achievement Medal for the highest Linguistic Proficiency level among his peers. Shortly after his promotion to Major, Steve was assigned to the U.S. Embassy Rabat, Morocco. While his primary duty was to travel extensively throughout North Africa and the Gulf region he earned the Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for leading, planning, and coordinating the largest bilateral joint military land exercise on the African continent. One year later, Steve was accepted by three Ivy League Graduate Programs and selected by the Army Human Resources Command to attend Harvard University in the fall of 2009. Upon completion of his graduate work, Steve graduated in May of 2011 with a Masters in Middle East Studies and was assigned to the U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar to work as the Deputy Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation.

Steve is survived by his wife of 12 years, Maggie Brothers of Arlington, MA; his parents, Gene and Ann Brothers of Syracuse, NY; grandmother, Eugenia Lashomb of Plattsburgh, NY, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sam and Barb Licata of Columbus, IN; brothers-in-law, Matt Licata (Liz) of Chicago, IL and Mark Licata of Raleigh, NC; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at Murphy’s Funeral Home of Arlington, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 1 to 3p.m. and 5 to 8p.m. There will be a prayer vigil beginning at 6p.m. where friends and family are welcome to share memories. Funeral services will be held at the Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer, 12:45p.m., Wednesday, August, 29, 2012 followed by Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery. (Please allow extra travel time for security check.) In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)