Brian Bourgeois Obituary, Death – The injuries that Brian Bourgeois sustained while training at Virginia Beach, Virginia, ultimately proved to be fatal, and he passed away on December 7th, 2021.
CAPT Bourgeois was a member of the Navy SEAL community for over 20 years and obtained his commission from the United States Naval Academy in May 2001. During that time, he served both the Navy and the community of Naval Special Warfare.
He participated in football at Navy for all four years of his undergraduate education and was awarded three varsity letters for his efforts. Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III stated this about CAPT Bourgeois when he was discussing him: “Brian was one of our very best leaders, who possessed all of the traits that make our force effective. We will miss his passionate leadership, and we will always be grateful for his diligent management of our standard.
In addition to that, CAPT Bourgeois graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) with a Master of Science in Defense Analysis and was honored with the Pat Tillman Leadership Award during his time there. At the time of his passing, CAPT Bourgeois was in charge of SEAL Team 8 and was acting in the capacity of Commanding Officer. It was announced on the 19th of October, 2022, that CDR Bourgeois would be posthumously elevated to the rank of Captain by the Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro.
According to Rear Adm. Keith Davids, who serves as the commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, “The loss of Brian is still felt throughout the entire Naval Special Warfare community.” His elevation to the rank of captain is unequivocal evidence of his moral fortitude, professional prowess, and ability to exercise leadership. Brian was one of the very greatest commanders we’ve ever had, and he possessed all of the qualities that are necessary for our force to be successful. He was an outstanding member of the team, as well as a dedicated parent, husband, and friend. He led by example.