Brent Lewis

Chief of Staff

---

Colonel (Retired) Brent Lewis has served as the Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) since January 2026 after retiring from the military after 33+ years of service. 

Prior to being hired as the Chief of Staff, Brent served as the Joint Director of Military Support for the Louisiana National Guard where he spearheaded collaborations for All-Hazards responses at the federal and state levels. 

Brent was born in Fort Ord, California and was raised in Kernersville, North Carolina. He entered the United States Army in March of 1993, attended Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas as an Air Defender. After commissioning through the Louisiana Officer Candidate School in August 2001, he attended Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. 

Brent’s military and civilian education includes: Avenger Crewmember (14S); Carpentry & Masonry Specialist (51B); Officer Candidate School; Engineer Officer Basic Course; Engineer Captains Career Course; Combined Arms Exercise (CAX); Combined and General Staff College (ILE); Advanced Operations Course (AOC); RTI Pre-Command Course. Colonel Lewis graduated from East Forsyth High School in 1992 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Louisiana State University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Arkansas Grantham.

Colonel (Retired) Lewis’ awards and decorations include: Bronze Star (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star Device), Iraqi Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star Device), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal (with Bronze Star Device), Global War on Terror Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (Numeral 2), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with M Device and Numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2), Louisiana Cross of Merit (with 3 Fleur-de-Lis), Louisiana Commendation Medal (with 2 Fleur-de-Lis), Louisiana Recruiting Ribbon (with 2 Fleur-de-Lis), Louisiana War Cross (with 1 Fleur-de-Lis), Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbon (with 13 Fleur-de-Lis), Louisiana Longevity Ribbon (with 2 Fleur-de-Lis), Army Superior Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Combat Action Badge.

Brent is married to the former Venessa Bordelon and they have two children: Layden, who will be a freshman at Southeastern Louisiana University in the Fall of 2026, and Londynn, an All-American Dancer at Southside Junior High in Denham Springs.