WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jordan Branem, 23, a Suffolk native, graduated from the Coast Guard’s Officer Candidate School in New London, Conn., July 9, 2003, and was commissioned an Ensign in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Branem and his 83 classmates were in the first Coast Guard OCS class under the recently formed Department of Homeland Security. Coast Guard OCS is a rigorous 17-week program of leadership instruction and technical training that prepares candidates to serve effectively as Coast Guard officers.

Branem, the son of Timothy and Angela Branem of Suffolk, graduated from Nansemond River High School in 1998 and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from Christopher Newport University in 2002. He is assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as a media relations officer in the Governmental and Public Affairs Directorate.