As a four-year (1967-1971) Chaminade student Oscar J. Braynon, was a basketball letterman, member of the Homecoming Committee, Student Council, trombonist in the Chaminade Band and a  freshman/JV football team member.  

Following graduation, Oscar enrolled at the historic Tuskegee (nee Institute) University in Alabama, where he majored in Political Science and was active in student life, including Pre-law, The Campus Digest newspaper, Pan Hellenic Council as well as Senior Class President.

Upon graduation from Tuskegee with a Bachelor of Science, Oscar J. Braynon entered Naval Aviation Officer Training, where he was commissioned as an Officer and earned his gold Navy Wings in 1977. 

As a Naval Officer and Pilot, Braynon’s professional career was established by a ten-year stint as an active duty Naval Aviator where he obtained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During which time he amassed in excess of 3,000 flight hours in various naval aircraft in anti-submarine warfare and logistical support while serving in the European and Pacific theaters of operation. He additionally served as a Naval Reservist and was stationed in the Caribbean and attained the rank of Commander. His reservist career was highlighted by two tours as Commanding Officer: the first at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Puerto Rico and the final as Commanding Officer of the Naval Station Roosevelt Roads Reserves. 

As a civilian Commander Braynon was pilot and flight Engineer at the former Eastern Airlines based in Miami. Mr. Braynon was the owner and Chief Pilot of International Aviation Consortium, an FAA certified air charter operation specializing in personal air services to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.  He additionally, served as a pilot for Presidential Candidate the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Mr. Braynon re-entered public service as the Chief of Staff for a Miami-Dade County Commissioner; he also served as Director of Intra-Governmental Affairs and Protocol in the Office of the Commission Chair. Braynon was responsible for all transportation and infrastructure policy issues. He also functioned as a negotiator and arbitrator for the re-establishment of the major regional cultural event within the Caribbean community.

Oscar J. Braynon currently serves as the Chairman of Miami-Dade County’s Citizen Independent Transportation Trust which oversees and monitors the expenditures from the county’s half cent sales tax.  He is the President of the South Florida Tuskegee Alumni Club, which includes Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. He presently provides consulting services in the areas of aviation, transportation, general government, community outreach and civic engagement, since retiring from Miami International Airport (MIA) in 2014.

Mr. Braynon presently resides in Miami Gardens and is a native of South Florida, with family roots in Miami which exceed 120 years. Oscar is married to the former Patricia Jennings of Miami (a graduate of the Academy of the Assumption), for 46 years and they are the parents to two adult children; son Oscar II, a former State Senator who is married to Melissa Fung of Miami and their daughter, Jina Marie, an international business analyst. Oscar and Pat as she is known, share grandsons Oscar James III and Brandon Glen. As an Episcopalian by faith is an ordained lay minister and served as the Parish Senior Warden.

His life is still guided by the Chaminade motto: Ad Mundum Meliorem, meaning  “Toward a Better World”