Brown’s career in local government began in 1994, when he accepted a position as recreation specialist for Santa Clarita, California. He then moved up the ranks in the city, serving as an information technology specialist and then management analyst.

He then joined Riverside, California, where he served as assistant to the city manager, and later as budget manager and assistant to the city manager in Elk Grove, California. He served as assistant city manager of Livermore, California, and as city manager of Tracy, California.

In 2018 Brown was hired as city manager of Moorpark. 

Brown holds a bachelor's degree in political science from CSU Northridge and a master's degree in public administration from CSU San Bernardino. 

This year Brown was selected as International City/County Management Association (ICMA) 2020-21 president-elect.