Command Sergeant Major Brzak enlisted as an Infantryman in the United States Army on 16 January 1991, in Ashley, Michigan. He attended basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation,20 November 1991, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY.
His last assignment was as the Headquarters Department of the Army G-3/5/7 Sergeant Major. His previous assignments include the Maneuver Center of Excellence Command Sergeant Major, Ft Benning, GA, 25th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major, Schofield Barracks, HI, 1st Brigade Combat Team Command Sergeant Major, Ft Bragg, NC, 2-504th PIR Ft Bragg, NC, 2-503rd ABN INF Vicenza, Italy, 3-13th Ft Jackson, SC, 1-504th PIR, Ft Bragg, NC, 1-501st PIR, Ft Richardson, AK, 3-14th INF Ft Drum, NY. He has also served two tours in Iraq (OIF I and OIF IX) and three tours in Afghanistan (OEF VI, OEF VIII and OEF XII).
He has held every leadership position in the Infantry from Team Leader through Command Sergeant Major. His military education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System to include the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 59), Nominative Leaders Course, Keystone-Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Ranger School, Jump Master School, and Drill Sergeant School.
His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit (3OLC), Bronze Star Medal with Valor x2, BSM (4OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (4OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1SOLC), Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 Bronze Stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (2 Bronze Stars & Arrowhead Device), Global war on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 7), NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Citation. Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Wings (with Combat Jump Device), Air Assault Wings, Drill Sergeant Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.