Tom Brewer (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Ross Brewer
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| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 43rd district |
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| In office January 4, 2017 – January 8, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Al Davis |
| Succeeded by | Tanya Storer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 6, 1958 Casper, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Oglala Lakota |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kelli Brewer |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Doane University (BA) United States Army War College (MA) |
| Committees | Agriculture Banking, Commerce and Insurance Education General Affairs Government, Military and Veterans Affairs State-Tribal Relations |
| Website | www.VoteTomBrewer.com |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1977—2013 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War, War in Afghanistan |
Tom Brewer (born August 6, 1958) is an Oglala American who served as a politician in the Nebraska Legislature. He was also a retired military officer. He represented the 43rd legislative district. Tom Brewer was first elected in 2016 and served from 2017 until 2025.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tom Brewer was born in Casper, Wyoming. He went to high school in Gordon, Nebraska. His father, Ross Brewer, was an Army Ranger who was injured while serving in the Korean War.
Learning from FFA
As a teenager, Tom was very active in the National FFA Organization, which used to be called Future Farmers of America. He earned important degrees from FFA, focusing on agribusiness. He worked at a local grain elevator and competed in many events. These included public speaking, which he says helped him later in his military and political careers. He was the first Native American to be an FFA state officer in Nebraska.
College and Advanced Studies
In 1988, he graduated from Doane University with a degree in History and Management. While at Doane, he was a talented athlete in cross country running and track. He was even named to the NAIA All-Conference teams. In 1983, he studied in Russia at Moscow State University and the University of Leningrad. Later, he earned a Master's Degree from the United States Army War College.
Military Career
Tom Brewer served in the United States Army for 36 years. During his service, he completed six tours in Afghanistan. He was recognized for his bravery with the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
Joining the Army
He joined the Army in 1977 after high school. He trained in field artillery and earned special qualifications like Air Assault and Airborne. In 1983, he became an infantry officer. He also completed tough courses like Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, and Ranger School, where he was the top graduate.
Flying Helicopters and Tanks
In 1985, he became an attack helicopter pilot. He flew different types of helicopters, including the AH-1 Cobra. He served in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq with the 4th Brigade 1st Cavalry Division. After becoming a Major, he switched to being an armor officer, commanding M1 Abrams tanks.
Serving in Afghanistan
In May 2003, Brewer went to Afghanistan to lead a training battalion for the Afghan National Army. On October 12, 2003, he was shot six times and injured by shrapnel during a battle. This event earned him the Bronze Star and his first Purple Heart. He was one of the first high-ranking officers to be wounded in the Afghanistan war.
He often talks about the heroism of Sergeant Kajiman Limbu, a Nepalese Royal Gurkha. Sergeant Limbu helped rescue Brewer from the battlefield despite Brewer being much heavier.
Helping at Home
After recovering from his injuries, Brewer worked with the National Guard on missions within the U.S. He helped with the emergency response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in September 2005. Later, in 2007, he worked at the National Airborne Operations Center near Omaha, Nebraska.
Return to Afghanistan
In January 2010, Brewer returned to Afghanistan as an advisor. On December 16, 2011, just before he was supposed to go home, his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. He was severely injured again and received the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom. These injuries led to his medical retirement from the Army in 2013.
Overall, Tom Brewer served six tours in Afghanistan and two more in nearby Kurdistan.
Supporting Ukraine
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Brewer has strongly supported Ukraine. He visits the country's frontlines to help train the Armed Forces of Ukraine and deliver supplies. He also shares information with members of the U.S. Congress about the war.
He has made four trips to Ukraine, traveling closer to the conflict than most other U.S. elected officials. He believes that if the U.S. does not help Ukraine, American troops might have to fight Russians in the future. He has suggested that NATO should train soldiers directly in Ukraine. He also thinks the U.S. should send advisors to learn from Ukraine's experience with drones.
Political Career
After recovering from his military injuries, Tom Brewer decided to enter politics.
Running for Congress
In 2014, he ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress for Nebraska's Third Congressional District. He ran against the Republican incumbent, Adrian Smith, but did not win the primary election.
Serving in the Nebraska Legislature
In 2016, Brewer was elected to the Nebraska Legislature, defeating the incumbent Al Davis. He won with 52.2 percent of the votes. In 2020, he was reelected, winning with 57.9 percent of the votes against Tanya Storer.
As a legislator, Brewer focused on several key areas:
- Helping veterans
- Supporting Native American communities
- Protecting religious freedom
- Working on energy policy
- Addressing firearms laws
- Improving election laws
Supporting Military and Veterans
Brewer worked to reduce and remove taxes on military retirement benefits. In 2024, his bill passed, making National Guard drill and training pay tax-free in Nebraska.
He also introduced a bill in 2023 to create a new veterans court program. This program allows veterans to have criminal cases dismissed if they complete special training. This bill passed in 2024 with strong support. Brewer also helped pass laws to improve support for emergency responders dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Advocating for Native Americans
Early in his time in the Legislature, Brewer played a big role in discussions about challenges faced by the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and the town of Whiteclay, Nebraska.
He helped pass a law to replace a statue of William Jennings Bryan with one honoring Chief Standing Bear in the U.S. Capitol. He also helped rename a state government building after Chief Standing Bear.
In 2019, Brewer introduced a bill to investigate and report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Nebraska. Governor Pete Ricketts signed this bill into law.
In 2021, Brewer gained national attention for helping return Chief Standing Bear's pipe tomahawk from Harvard University's Peabody Museum. He argued that Harvard had no strong reason to keep the important artifact.
In 2022, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska recognized Brewer for his work. They praised his efforts in honoring Chief Standing Bear and supporting Native American people in Nebraska. In 2024, Brewer helped pass the "First Freedom Act." This law protects religious freedom and specifically allows the wearing of tribal clothing in Nebraska schools.
Energy Policy Discussions
During his time in office, Brewer introduced several bills to limit the growth of large wind turbines in rural Nebraska. He was a leading voice against wind energy expansion in the state.
He also worked to stop the construction of the "R-Project," a long power line through the Nebraska Sandhills. Brewer supported a lawsuit against the project, arguing it did not properly consider environmental impacts.
Firearms Laws
In 2017, Brewer introduced bills related to firearms, including a proposal for constitutional carry. He continued to propose similar laws. In 2023, he successfully passed LB 77, which allowed permitless carry and state control over firearms laws. This bill passed with support from some Democratic senators who cited historical issues with previous laws.
In 2019, Brewer introduced LB 582, which made it easier to prosecute cases involving stolen guns. This bill became law in 2020. In 2024, he proposed school security legislation to allow armed security in some schools. A final version of the bill focused on smaller rural public schools, private schools, and colleges.
Election Laws
As chairman of the committee overseeing elections, Brewer often led efforts to update election laws. In 2023, he guided the bill to require photo voter identification. This bill passed after Nebraska voters approved a constitutional change in 2022.
Reputation as a Senator
Tom Brewer was known for his unique approach as a senator. He once campaigned by riding a mule 500 miles across his large legislative district. He also competed in international sniper competitions. In 2021, he made news for leading a team of Nebraska legislators on a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. This trip helped build stronger relationships among the lawmakers.
His trips to Ukraine during wartime also drew attention. At the end of his last legislative session in April 2024, his colleagues gave him a framed Ukrainian flag signed by them.
Competitive Marksmanship
Brewer has a long history in competitive shooting. He helped coach the U.S. Men's shooting team for the 1996 Olympic Games. He has won ten national championships as a shooter and many others as a coach. In 1999, he became the director of the Marksmanship Training Center in Arkansas. As a soldier, he earned special awards for his rifle and pistol shooting skills.
After winning a world sniper competition in 1997, he returned to compete again in Bulgaria in 2018 as a state senator. In 2019, his two-man team won the top prize in the International T-Class Confederation Multigun competition, even after he broke several ribs while training.
Personal Life
Tom Brewer and his wife, Kelli, have two children. Kelli served in the Nebraska National Guard and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. Both of their children have also served in the Nebraska National Guard.
Brewer is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. He is the first Native American elected to the Nebraska state legislature. He is a descendant of Chief Red Cloud.
Military Awards and Decorations
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| German Parachutist Badge | |||||||||
| Combat Infantryman Badge | |||||||||
| Expert Infantryman Badge | |||||||||
| Senior Aviator Badge | |||||||||
| Senior Parachutist Badge | |||||||||
| Air Assault Badge | |||||||||
| Pathfinder Badge | |||||||||
| President's Hundred Tab | |||||||||
| Ranger Tab | |||||||||
| Airborne Tab | |||||||||
| Bronze Star Medal with cluster | Purple Heart with cluster | ||||||||
| Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal with 4 clusters | Aerial Achievement Medal | |||||||
| Air and Space Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal with 5 clusters | Army Achievement Medal with 3 clusters | |||||||
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with campaign star | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal | |||||||
| Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal | Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ gold hourglass (30 years) and 3 mobilization devices | Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon | |||||||
| Army Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon | North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (International Security Assistance Force) | |||||||
| Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon w/ numeral 12 | Nebraska Meritorious Service Medal w/ cluster | Nebraska Commendation Medal w/ 5 clusters | |||||||
| Nebraska Individual Achievement Medal w/ cluster | Nebraska National Guard Recruiting Achievement Ribbon | Nebraska National Guard Desert Storm/Shield Service Ribbon | |||||||
| Nebraska Homeland Defense Service Ribbon w/ mobilization device | Nebraska Emergency Service Medal w/ star | Nebraska Service Medal w/ "XXV" device | |||||||
Fun Facts About Tom Brewer
Tom Brewer is known for being a unique senator. Before his first election in 2016, he rode a mule 500 miles across the Nebraska Sandhills as part of his campaign. His legislative district is larger than three other states combined!
In 2021, he made news when he led a team of five Nebraska lawmakers on a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. They trained together, and the trip helped them build better relationships despite their different political views.
He also gained attention for his four trips to Ukraine during the war. At the end of his last legislative session in 2024, his fellow lawmakers gave him a framed Ukrainian flag with their signatures.
