“Float like a Butterfly and Sting like a Bee”

CDR. DREW TIMOTHY BROWN, III

Drew was born and raised in New York City on January 20, 1955. He was the only child of Rhoda Palestine and Drew “Bundini” Brown, Jr.

Drew’s father Bundini was the trainer and motivational force behind three-time world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. His famous slogan “Float like a Butterfly and Sting like a Bee” is timeless and world renown. Brown graduated from Southern University at New Orleans with a major in business administration and minor in economics.

Drew joined the United States Navy where he earned Wings of Gold. He was then assigned to Attack Squadron 35 “The Black Panthers”—the oldest Attack Squadron in Naval Aviation history. At one time, he was the only black Naval jet pilot flying attack aircrafts (A-6 Intruder). Drew flew missions from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-69).

Drew has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the President of the United States, The Freedom Foundation Medal by the US Supreme Court, and the Congressional Black Caucus Male Achievement Award. Among Drew’s other numerous awards is the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Special Salute for outstanding leadership.

Millions of people have seen and heard Commander Drew Brown in person or via his appearances on NBC’s Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS This Morning Show, and hundreds of local TV and national radio broadcast. He has been featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fortune Magazine among other publications.

His autobiography “You Gotta Believe” reached the bestseller list and is in its seventh printing and continues to receive rave reviews.

Dr. Paul Thompson

Paul Thompson was born in Harlem and raised in Queens, New York.

After graduating high school, he attended the University of Pittsburgh graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Joining the Navy he then attended Navy Officer Candidate School. Upon his Commissioning he entered Navy Flight Training. He flew the A-7E attack aircraft on aircraft carriers USS Saratoga and the USS John F. Kennedy conducting flight operations across the Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. While Paul traveled to various countries and cultures he also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University. After completing his military service as a Navy Jet Flight Instructor, he began a civilian aviation career flying for FedEx where he became Captain and flew various airplanes for more than thirty years. While flying internationally, he again earned a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration from Southern California University for Professional Studies.

After retiring from FedEx, he completed a certification in Creative Writing from Emory University.