Mast, Brian, 1980-

<p>Brian Jeffery Mast (born July 10, 1980) is an American politician and U.S. military veteran who has served as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 18th congressional district since 2017. He is a Republican.</p>

<p>A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Mast lost both of his legs while serving as a U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician in Afghanistan in 2010.</p>

<p>Mast was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the son of James Mast and Tixomena Trujillo. His maternal grandparents were immigrants from Mexico. Mast graduated from South Christian High School, in 1999. In 2016, he obtained an A.L.B. from Harvard University Extension School, with a field of economics and minors in government and environmental studies.</p>

MAST, Brian Jeffery, a Representative from Florida; born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., July 10, 1980; graduated from South Christian High School, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1999; attended Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, Fla., 2000-2002; attended American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va., 2008-2010; A.L.B., Harvard University Extension School, Cambridge, Mass., 2016; United States Army, 2000-2012; analyst, National Nuclear Security Administration, 2011-2012; explosive specialist, United States Department of Homeland Security, 2012-2015; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fifteenth and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 2017-present).

<p>Congressman Brian Mast is in his third term representing the 18th Congressional District of Florida.</p>

<p>Prior to his election to Congress, Brian followed in his father’s footsteps by serving in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, earning medals including The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. While deployed in Afghanistan, he worked as a bomb disposal expert under the elite Joint Special Operations Command. The last improvised explosive device that he found resulted in catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs.</p>

<p>While lying in bed recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center, Brian’s father gave him advice that has stuck with him to this day--to ensure the greatest service he gave to our country and the best example he set for his children was still ahead of him. Brian took this advice to heart and dedicated himself to finding new ways to serve our country and his community.</p>