Brad Conner was born on March 5, 1966, in Tacoma, Washington. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 24, 1987, and he completed basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, in August 1987. He then completed Advanced Individual Training as an ammunition specialist at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, before serving as an ammunition specialist with the 515th Ordinance Company at Redstone Arsenal. Sgt Conner deployed to Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991. He volunteered for Special Forces training in 1992, and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1993, spending the rest of his career with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, Colorado, and the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington. Sergeant Major Conner was serving as Company Sergeant Major with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis when he was killed in action while deployed to Iraq on May 9, 2007. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.