brett crozier is from santa rosa, california. he graduated from the united states naval academy in 1992 and became a pilot for the navy in 1994. he fought in iraq in 2003. he later earned a master's degree in national security and strategic studies at the naval war college. he served in many different positions in the navy, including executive officer of the "uss ronald reagan". brett crozier was captain of the "uss blue ridge" from june 2017 to november 2018.