First Sergeant Brett A. Puwalowski is a native of West Deer, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 22 June 2009 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion, received training at Marine Combat Training East (MCT). Following MCT, reported to the Utilities Instruction Company, Court House Bay, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was promoted to Private First Class on 1 December 2009. Upon completion of Basic Electrician Course, Private First Class Puwalowski received orders to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Private First Class Puwalowski was promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 August 2010. While assigned to 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, he was deployed to Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). During his deployment, he was in charge of 51 Generator sites around the Southern Area of Operation. Lance Corporal Puwalowski was in charge of coordinating contact teams to various patrol bases and forward operating bases to supply preventative maintenance parts, as well as assist with corrective maintenance, and keeping all electrical power grids up to code in accordance with the National Electric Code. Upon returning from his deployment, he was meritoriously promoted to Corporal on 2 December 2011.
Corporal Puwalowski was again deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, in support of OEF in September 2012. During his deployment he was the Operations Chief for 3d Platoon, Support Company. Corporal Puwalowski worked alongside the Army Corps of Engineers providing sound expertise in the planning to go from generator power to shore power on multiple power grids aboard Camp Leatherneck saving the government approximately 1.5 Million Dollars in fuel annually. Upon returning from his deployment he was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant on 2 May 2013.
Sergeant Puwalowski attended Advance Electrician Course, Court House Bay, Camp Lejeune NC, in August 2013 and graduated in the top 5 in his class. Upon completion of his Advance Course, Sergeant Puwalowski was assigned as the Platoon Sergeant of Utilities Platoon, Support Company, 2d Combat Engineer Battalion.
In June 2014, Sergeant Puwalowski executed orders to 3d Marine Division, Headquarters Battalion, Communications Company, Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. While assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Sergeant Puwalowski was hand selected as an instructor for the Battalion’s first Command-Sponsored Corporals Course. Sergeant Puwalowski was promoted to Staff Sergeant on 1 November 2016. Staff Sergeant Puwalowski served as Utilities Chief for 33 Division level Field Exercises to include, Balikatan, Caltrap, and Phiblex.
In December 2017, Staff Sergeant Puwalowski Executed orders to Utilities instruction Company, Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune where he served as an instructor for Utilities Instruction Company. He Taught (1) Basic Electrician Course, and (6) Advance Electrician Courses, and (3) Utility Chiefs Courses. He trained over 232 Entry level to Staff Non-commissioned officers. Staff Sergeant Puwalowski attended Utility Chief Course, Court House Bay, Camp Lejeune NC, in January 2019 and graduated second in his class. His final year at Utilities Instruction Company he served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant for Utilities Instruction Company.
In August of 2021, Staff Sergeant Puwalowski Executed orders to II Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to serve as the Staff Non-commissioned Officer in Charge. Staff Sergeant Puwalowski was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant on 1 September 2021. In December of 2021, Gunnery Sergeant Puwalowski Graduated from NATO Cold Weather training in Norway earning the title of Chief Cold Weather Instructor. While deployed in the Arctic Circle of Norway he Trained 203 Marines Within the II MEF on cold weather survival.
In November of 2022, Gunnery Sergeant Puwalowski Executed orders to Marine Air Control Squadron-4, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma where he served the Utilities Chief for MTUT Platoon. During his time he oversaw the deployment and operation of (17) 1st Marine Aircraft Wing exercises within the first island chain in the INDOPACIFIC area of operation. He provided engineer equipment for over 560,000 watts of power generation in support of 25 tactical power grids for over 189 days of continuous utilities and logistic support. Gunnery Sergeant Puwalowski was frocked to his current rank of First Sergeant on March 10,2025.
In March 2025, First Sergeant Puwalowski was assigned to his current billet as Inspector-Instructor 1stSgt in Lansing, Michigan for Charlie Company 1st Battalion 24th Marines.
First Sergeant Puwalowski's personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of Third award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with (Gold Star in lieu of third award).