Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of RD Brown as executive director of the Minnesota Combative Sports Commission. Brown replaces Scott LeDoux, who resigned as the commission’s executive director in August.

Brown, 64, resides in St. Paul, and serves the community as a volunteer on numerous civic and community boards, including the Minnesota Board on Aging, Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Racial Bias in the Courts, Ramsey County Children’s Services Review Panel, and HealthPartners Patient Council and Regions Hospital Patient Council. He also currently chairs the Minnesota Combative Sports Commission, and has served as a member of the commission since 2007. Brown is resigning as a member of the Combative Sports Commission to accept appointment as its executive director, a full-time, paid position.

Brown’s profession career was in management, strategic planning, budgeting and community development in the non-profit field, most recently as vice president of child and family support services for Children’s Home Society and Family Services. He holds masters degrees in health services administration and business administration from Columbia Pacific University in San Rafael, California, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Central College in Pella, Iowa. Brown also has experience in mixed martial arts, which has included participating in local shimsas, and assisting with regional tournaments. He has won numerous awards in seniors free fighting.

The Minnesota Combative Sports Commission has sole direction, supervision, regulation, control, and jurisdiction over all boxing and tough person contests held within the state; sole control, authority, and jurisdiction over all licenses; may adopt rules including, but not limited to, the conduct of boxing exhibitions, bouts, fights, and their manner, supervision, time, and place; and must adopt unified rules for mixed martial arts. The Minnesota Combative Sports Commission, whose purpose is to protect health, promote safety, and ensure fair boxing and mixed martial arts events, consists of nine members appointed by the Governor, one of whom must be a retired Minnesota judge, three of whom must have knowledge of the boxing industry, and four of whom must have knowledge of the mixed martial arts industry. The Governor also appoints the executive director of the commission.