Scott Brown (Royal Navy chaplain)

Scott James Brown, (born 16 May 1968), is a Church of Scotland minister and former Royal Navy chaplain. From 2010 to 2014, he served as Chaplain of the Fleet and was therefore the senior military chaplain in the Royal Navy.

Early life
Scott was born in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on 16 May 1968, the son of Margaret and Jim Brown of Hamilton. Educated at Hamilton Grammar School and Bell College of Technology. He graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1992. While studying at university, he was also a member of the Aberdeen URNU.

Career
Following graduation, Brown underwent an assistantship at St Andrew's West, Falkirk, from 1992 to 1993. He was ordained by the Church of Scotland in 1993 by the Presbytery of Hamilton.

Military career
Brown joined the Royal Navy in April 1993 and served in the ships of the Commodore Minewarfare, Fishery Protection and Diving, HMS Raleigh (shore establishment), HMS Neptune, and HMS Sultan (shore establishment). He then served on exchange with the Royal Australian Navy and then in HMS Cardiff (D108), HMS Kent (F78), and HMS Iron Duke (F234). He then served with the Command Training Group, and was Staff Chaplain to the Chaplain of the Fleet. From 1999 to 2000, he served as Chaplain to the Very Reverend Dr John Cairns during his term as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

He was promoted Principal Chaplain in 2007. He was appointed at the same time to be an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC). On 1 November 2010, he was appointed Chaplain of the Fleet, and accorded the equivalent rank of a Rear Admiral. He retired in January 2015.

Post Military and Personal
Brown married Colin Fleming in 2006.

Brown was inducted to the parishes of Buchlyvie and Gartmore in March 2019, and demitted in September 2023.

Brown was appointed as National Chaplain of the Royal British Legion in September 2023.

Honours and decorations
Brown was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.