Brent Thompson grew up in Corsicana, graduated from Corsicana High School and then completed the Navarro College Police Academy in 1997. Brent served in the U.S. Marine Corps. From 2004-2008 he worked as an international police liaison officer for the private military contractor DynCorp. He led a team of American police officers who trained and mentored the Iraqi Police and Afghanistan.  In both countries he mentored and taught Iraqi/Afghan police democratic policing and assisted in the establishment of the police departments in those countries.

 

Officer Thompson taught at the Navarro College Police Academy from 2001-2004. Officer Thompson worked as a police officer for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) from 2009 until his death. On July 7, 2016 Officer Thompson was one of the five police officers killed by snipers in the 2016 Dallas Police Protest Shooting.  Officer Thompson was the first DART officer to ever be killed in the line of duty.

 

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About the Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor that Navarro College bestows upon an outstanding alum. The award acknowledges and recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and exemplarily achievements of Navarro College alumni whose personal lives, professional achievements, and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.  The award recipients are chosen by the Distinguished Alumni Award Selection Committee consisting of members of the Navarro College Foundation Board of Directors, two Navarro College employees (active or retired) and the Executive Director of the Foundation. 

View past recipients